J.Bailey Occasions

2012 Spring Project Internship

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:44:00 +0000

We are excitedly looking for 2 short-term project interns to join our team for the next 3 months. Interns will work directly with Jenessa Bailey on designing and implementing a unique, large scale event and gain experience in a variety of event planning scenarios. Here’s the skinny….

Internship Dates: February 29, 2012 through May 3, 2012

Must be available to work Mondays & Wednesdays, up to 2-3 hours per day, during the above dates

Additional special work dates required:
• Friday, March 2nd (All day, travel out of town)
• Friday, March 9-Saturday, March 10 (All day, out of town), EVENT!
• Thursday, April 19-Sunday, April 22nd: EVENT WEEKEND, Out of Town

Previous event experience required, preferably in a planning capacity.

This is an unpaid position, however JBO will work with you to arrange college credit hours if you would like.

Due to the nature of the event, the event cannot be announced at this time. Event details will be discussed with top candidates in their interviews. The events are ideal for someone looking to gain experience in non-profit social events. I promise it will be a lot of fun!

How to Apply:

Email applications will be the only way to apply. No phone calls, in person drop-offs, or snail mail will be considered for this position.

Please email your resume along with one letter of recommendation (preferably from past event experience) to Jenessa@jbaileyoccasions.com no later than midnight on Sunday, February 19th.

Reference letters should include the following: How they have worked with you in an event capacity, your ability to handle independent projects efficiently, and any examples of successful events you have been a part of.

Monday, February 20th: Candidates chosen for interviews will be contacted by email.

Wednesday, February 22nd: Interviews will be held for up to 4 top candidates between the hours of 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM.

Friday, February 25th: All candidates will be notified of our decision by email

Thank you for considering J.Bailey Occasions for your Spring Internship experience! We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Act quickly! Applications are due by Midnight, Sunday, February 19, 2012!

The Brides Tell All: Allison Harris Elledge's Wedding Woes & Wisdom

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Image by Andrew Bowser Photography

From your own experience, what advice would you give other women for their wedding day?

Allow yourself enough time to get ready! I didn’t want to get my hair or makeup done until absolutely necessary (I had a huge fear of bad, flat wedding hair and worn-off makeup!)…but, I found myself having to rush a bit to leave on time! Thank goodness my mom and grandmother left the hotel later than I did… I forgot my garter in the rush! My advice would be to make sure you allow plenty of time to get ready, that way you can enjoy without having to rush!

Looking back, are there any details from your wedding you would have changed or excluded?

I think I would have served “adult drinks” at the happy hour. I know it’s terrible to admit that sometimes people need a little help getting out on the dance floor, but it’s the truth! We only served sweet tea, lemonade, and water at the happy hour because we were worried we might run out of alcohol later in the night! Well, that, and I didn’t want people getting too “tipsy”, haha! But, it turned out that we had more than enough…plus, starting the “adult beverages” a little earlier might have resulted in more guests getting out on the dance floor sooner! We had plenty of people dancing, but I’m always up for more (and, the truth is, some adult beverage might have helped more people get their courage up to get out there sooner in the night)!!

In your opinion, what are some good ways to keep costs low when planning a wedding?

First, just ask! We had some WONDERFUL vendors (who I thought I wouldn’t be able to afford). But, many of them were able and willing to work with us on price (and payment plans) so that we could afford to use their services. I think that sometimes vendors are just as excited to work with brides who love their work as we are to hire them…expressing that excitement and asking where price can be cut sometimes gets you a long way! And, the worst they can say is no!

In what ways did you make your wedding and reception different from all the rest?

I hope that what made it different was that we made a real effort to show our personalities in our wedding. A lot of times, weddings become “typical” because people don’t know that they can think outside the box! There are so many wonderful choices out there, people no longer have to go with the typical wedding choices (unless they want a traditional wedding, of course!). I think we made a lot of “non-typical” choices, such as fun and modern (rather than fancy) wedding invitations and programs, homemade jelly & salsa (made by Chris’s mom and nana) for thank you gifts, a marching band, fight song recessional, non-flower centerpieces, and lots of DIY touches! Oh, and we included our beautiful, wonderful dog as our ring bearer! He was a big hit!!

What was your favorite detail about your wedding and reception?

Ok, this question is too hard, I can’t pick just one! But, amid all of the tangible details that I loved, I would have to say that my most favorite thing was the wording that made up our ceremony. I think that it is definitely easy to get caught up in centerpieces and invitations, but it is important to remember the bigger picture…you are committing to forever with another person! I think that we stayed true to ourselves with our ceremony, which we wrote start to finish (with the exception of our officiant’s opener). We integrated traditional and non-traditional elements, and we tried to communicate to our witnesses the way in which we are approaching our marriage.

What was your favorite experience or memory from your reception?

One of my favorite memories (I have so many!) was my sister’s maid of honor speech. My younger sister had like 12 pages of speech written (that she pulled out of her dress, haha)! She started talking and immediately started crying! She totally forgot about her 12 pages of speech and spoke from the heart, which was a truly wonderful moment for me. She was so adorable!

What is the best way to keep your guests excited and involved at the reception, so they won’t leave early?

Well, this answer came directly from my guests! I was told by numerous guests that the excellent coordination (by J.Bailey Occasions, of course) kept things running smoothly, so that there was a wedding “happening” every 30 minutes or so. This ensured that guests were never waiting around for anything, whether that be food, cake, the bouquet/garter toss, or our exit! Our wedding was run like clockwork, which kept our guests interested and involved…all of the credit for that goes to Jenessa and her team!

What do you suggest as good wedding music? Is it best to use live music or a CD?

We used a DJ (Groove Productions). I think the answer to this question depends on your personality and the personality of your guests. We had guests that were ready to break it down, so a DJ was perfect for that. I think a band that could cover a wide variety of old and new songs would have also worked, but that was outside of our price range! I felt that if you’re going have a band, you better have a good one (and good ones are expensive!). So, for the budget-watching bride, a good DJ can be more than sufficient!!

What is something that stressed you out while planning, how did you alleviate that stress, and what solution did you find for the problem?

Well, we got married in Fayetteville, but I was living in Lawrence, KS for pretty much the entire time that we were engaged (dang you, graduate school!). On top of that, I had no family in Fayetteville or Lawrence. And Chris lived in Mississippi for the year before the wedding (dang you, graduate school…again!). So, needless to say, the sheer distance between myself, the wedding, and the people involved was pretty stressful. Having a coordinator in town was my #1 solution, which worked wonderfully! On top of that, LOTS of emails and phone calls between all of the people involved in the wedding (my parents, bridesmaids, groomsmen, officiant, vendors, etc)! And, in the end, it was all worth it to be able to get married in Fayetteville…it’s where Chris and I met and the place that I love most!

What is something you did not expect about planning a wedding that you experienced?

How much fun it would be! I was never a girl who planned her wedding from childhood; but, once I got engaged, I really enjoyed using wedding planning as a creative outlet. Not only was DIY cost-effective, but it was really fun making things that I knew would be a part of our special day ☺

Allison & Chris, it was so much fun working with you two! You made my job enjoyable and fun and you had a beautiful wedding day! I am so glad that we got to be a part of it!

Allison and Chris' Wedding Day Movie

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:08:00 +0000

Yesterday I got to show you some of the fun details from Allison & Chris' Fall Fayetteville wedding. Now you get to see it in motion! Thanks to Tulsa videographers, Pen Weddings, the Elledges will be able to look back on their wedding day and see the hustle and bustle and hear the emotion in their day. You also get a tiny time lapse into our "flip" of the Barn between the ceremony & reception. Thanks to Pen Weddings for sharing with us! You will definitely want to visit their site, especially Sarah's blog. I could watch it All.Day.Long.

Allison & Chris' October Fayetteville Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:55:00 +0000

Everything about this wedding says Fall to me. From its October 16th date (shout out to my bday!), to its Pratt Place Barn location, and the rustic homespun details, Allison made her dream day come to life on the perfect, crisp Fall day in Fayetteville.

Allison and Chris are University of Arkansas alumni who no longer live in Fayetteville. They chose their college town as the melting pot location for friends and family who came in from all sides of the country. Allison's vision for the day was rustic simplicity with some modern touches. I'm excited today to share the details.

Before we begin, let's give the credit to Springfield photographer Andrew Bowser for his lovely work capturing their day.

Allison is the true definition of a DIY bride. She tapped into her very creative, crafty, handy side and created some wonderful details for the day. She created these adorable wedding signs to point guests in the right direction once they arrived on Sasafrass Hill.

Alli and Chris were wed inside the Pratt Place Barn, with a mentor and friend officiating the ceremony. Allison, a self described non-flower girl, chose personal flowers that were modern and rustic all in one design. Jules Design created the personal flowers for the day.

Check out this beauty! I loved her birdcage veil.

We also brought in a few lovebird details, including the emblems on the invitations and the programs. Allison loved working hard finding wonderful vendors on Etsy to bring these details to life!

Baxter, the couple's beautiful fur child, served as the ring bearer for the day. I have never seen a better behaved pooch! Isn't he beautiful?

My favorite, and I mean FAVORITE, detail of the day was a big time surprise for the groom. We hid members of the Razorback Marching Band in the balcony of the Barn during the ceremony. After being pronounced husband and wife, Chris and Allison turned to the crowd and from above the Arkansas Razorback Fight Song began playing. Not only was Chris shocked (I read his lips to Allison..."Did you know about this?") but the guests clapped and sang along! How.much.fun in the midst of football season!

Mama Dean's Soul Food restaurant provided a true Southern dinner for the night. We all know that no guests left this party because they were hungry! There was enough chicken fried chicken and corn poppers to feed an army! Not only did Mama Dean do the cookin' she also was found shakin' it on the dance floor with the bride.

This sweet cake from Rick's Bakery was topped with the lovebirds again and used the couple's moss wedding color in its ribbon details.

One way that Allison infused a personal touch was by creating her own favors for the guests to take home. They personally canned her Mom & Grandmom's jellies and salsas! YUM-O! (Yes, I took a few for myself!) And of course, Allison created the fun "Thank You" sign to top off the display.

At the end of the night, Chris and Allison drove away in wedded bliss in the coolest vintage pickup truck. This find was all the groom's and what an awesome finale it was!

Come back tomorrow to see the beautiful video that captured this Fall wedding day!

The Brides Tell All: Brittany Lavy Priest's Wedding Woes & Wisdom

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0000

From your own experience, what advice would you give other women for their wedding day?
Pick what you love and don't spend any time second guessing your choices. I am a very decisive person and that gave me comfort because I knew I made the right choices the first time around.
My second piece of advice is to pick the best wedding vendors and put trust in them that they know what they're doing. I was so confident in my people that I never had to worry if they knew how to do their job correctly.
My third and final piece of advice is to use a wedding planner. It allows you to enjoy being the bride!

Looking back, are there any details from your wedding that you would have changed or excluded?
I think everything was perfect. Even if it wasn't actually perfect it all felt perfect to us!

In your opinion, what are some good ways to keep costs low when planning a wedding?
Decide what your priorities are and use that to help you decide where to spend your money. I thought about what meant the most to me (dress, style, photography, flowers, and reception) and Chase (band, beer, food and fun) and went off of that. When I had to make choices about budget I went with things that still got across that feeling or look I was going for but maybe cut it back in scale or number.

In what ways did you make your wedding and reception different from all the rest?
I wanted our wedding day to really represent us. The style of dresses, tuxes, flowers, invitations, and decor were all reflections of our style. Everything about our reception showed our personalities. Our reception was held at my parents' house. There isn't a more "me" space than my home with my family. It was beautiful but still very relaxed. I picked what I loved and I think when you do that, your personality will show.

What was your favorite detail about your wedding and reception?
I don't have one favorite detail about the reception. My favorite part was seeing all of the details come together. It was all of the little details that we put thought into that came out so perfectly when they were all put together.
My favorite detail pre-wedding was our Save the Date. We have dated since junior high and we made a timeline of some of our favorite memories together. It sort of told our story to our guests and makes a great keepsake for us to have.

What was your favorite experience or memory from your wedding or reception?
I don't know if it was my favorite at the time...but looking back my favorite memory would have to be when I was standing with my Dad and the doors of the church opened for me to walk down the aisle. I was so overwhelmed/excited that I was about to get married that I burst out into tears...and continued to cry until the ceremony was over.
Favorite memory of the reception would be my Dad busting a move to a Rolling Stones song. It involved a lot of air guitar moves. It was hysterical because it was really the last thing I was expecting.

What is the best way to keep your guests excited and involved at the reception, so they won't leave early?
I think it helps to have a great location, great band, good food and lots to drink. HA! Seriously, the band is key. If people aren't dancing they just won't stay as long. It helps when the reception has a good flow to it. Older people will leave early and so the first dance and cutting the cake should happen fairly early so that they get to see what they want to see.

What do you suggest as good wedding music? Live or CD?
I suggest LIVE music 100%!!!! We had an organist play and then we also had someone sing a solo. The church had a list of approved songs and I went through and listened to them and picked what I thought was pretty. It is simple and I loved my choices.

What is something that stressed you out while planning, and how did you alleviate that stress and what solution did you find for the problem?
I am not a major stresser (side note from Jenessa: Brittany, Chase, and their families are ROCKSTARS at not stressing out!!!), however the reception was indoor and outdoor. The weather was nasty leading up to the wedding and we had to look at other options for the reception venue. I didn't want to have it anywhere other than my house but I also didn't want my guests to be in a flood zone. So we looked at other options and came up with a back up plan. The day of the wedding I got up early and had to let Jenessa know by 8AM what my decision was. She is so calming and level headed that it put me at ease. I prayed, talked with everyone, consulted the weatherman, weighed my choices and went with my heart. The weather cleared up and the reception weather was perfect.

What is something you did not expect about planning a wedding that you experienced?
I did not expect to be calm enough to actually enjoy my wedding day. When it came down to the day of the wedding I knew that everything was already taken care of and I didn't have to worry. I got to focus on the experience of the day, and that was really special to me.

Thanks for sharing, Brittany! You will go down in the books as one of the best brides ever and I appreciate how wonderful you and your family were to work with! Brides, take Brittany's wonderful advice and apply it to your wedding day.

Brittany and Chase: Backyard Wedding Reception

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Yesterday you saw the sweet ceremony of Brittany & Chase. Today I'll be sharing my favorite details from their at home reception. Let's start by saying that the reception went to Plan C when crazy spring storms literally rained on our parade in the days leading up to the wedding, turning the backyard to muddy mush! When the severe storm threatened to interrupt the wedding day, the bride, mother of the bride and I were found downtown scoping out a backup-backup location. Yes, of course we had a rain plan already in place....just not one that could handle impending severe weather. Who wants to be in a tent during a tornado?

Needless to say, after some prayers to the Big Guy upstairs, the bride and her family rolled with the punches and a wonderful backyard reception was still enjoyed by all of the guests. There wasn't a drop of rain during the reception! We actually had to pull back the tent walls so that the guests could enjoy the delightful day! Thanks, Lord!

Brittany and Chase have a wonderful relationship with their family and having their reception at home was the perfect setting for everyone. The guests were 'golf carted' up to the house and welcomed with warm hospitality. The dining room table was one of my favorite designs of the day. We had beautiful florals along with family wedding photos from generations long ago, needlepoints made just for the bride on her wedding day, and so many personal wedding details.

Guests enjoyed cocktails and hand passed hors d'oeuvres around the pool before heading down to the tent below. We had bellini's served to infuse a little pop of pale pink into the cocktail hour. The tent was dressed with a mix of pewter pintuck, champagne pink, and cream lace linens all surrounded by classic silver Chiavari chairs {all rented from Festivities}. Centerpieces were a mixture of tall flowering branches and low peonies, baby's breath, garden roses, and other garden flowers in just about any type of container you could imagine! From milk glass to mason jars to pitchers and even old trophies, the flowers found their homes in a variety of vintage containers.

The simple & beautiful cake was created by Shelby Lynn's Cake Shoppe and topped with lush pink peonies.

Brittany changed from her cathedral length ceremony veil to this adorable organza flower in her hair for the party.

The dance floor was rockin' to the music of one of my very favorite {and highly recommended} Arkansas party bands, The Rockets!

We brought in a custom photo booth from Vintage Photo Booths for guests to enjoy. The custom booth allows you to choose decor to compliment your party. Brittany found the creme antique doors at a local thrift shop and we used them as the backdrop for the booth.

The night continued with lots of dancing, great food and drinks, and celebrating Brittany & Chase. Brittany's maid of honor, and younger sister {this dad has 4 more girls to marry!} caught the bouquet, and then we sent these two on their married way!

Congrats again to Brittany and Chase! They're approaching their anniversary quickly & I can't believe it! Thanks to all of our vendors for making this a spectacular event for the couple. Props to Benfield Photography for the wonderful photos!

Tomorrow we will hear from the bride with her Wedding Woes & Wisdom just for you!

Brittany and Chase: The Wedding Ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:53:00 +0000

Last May two junior high sweethearts tied the knot and became husband and wife in a true hometown celebration. Brittany and Chase were wed at Central United Methodist Church on Dickson Street, a downtown Fayetteville icon {if you ask me} because of its beautiful, traditional architecture and its steeple that stands tall in the downtown district. Here are a few of my favorite details from their wedding ceremony.

Brittany's flowers were some of my favorite from the entire year of weddings. The cream and pink peonies were a delightful nod to her Spring wedding date. They are classic, feminine, lush, and oh so Southern in the best way. We incorporated them in the bride's bouquet, the bridesmaids' bouquets, and simple pew markers to note the honored guests' seating at the church. Jules Design was the mastermind behind the floral loveliness!

The altar arrangement was simple and stunning. The church, whose natural beauty, size and scale are phenomenal, doesn't require much when it comes to making things beautiful. We chose tall, all white and cream arrangements and an assortment of candles for some softness at the altar.

The flower girl carried a sweet pomander ball of all pink for a monochromatic look with her soft pink dress. What a doll!

The wedding programs were printed on the sweetest shimmering pink paper and showcased a hand drawn icon of the church, previously seen on the couple's adorably personal Save the Date. All of their wedding paper lovelies were created by none other than Amy Hannon of Sincerely Yours Paper, Inc.

Time to get married! I love this image of Brittany and her father, Trevor, walking down the aisle. To me, it shows that even though they saw each other prior to this moment, the emotion and feeling of walking down the aisle to your groom is still there. Brittany cried all the way down the aisle and through the personal ceremony as they promised their vows to each other. I loved her sweet demeanor all through the day.

And here they are just seconds before being pronounced husband and wife. Brittany's lifelong pastor, HD McCarty, was praying a prayer of blessing upon their marriage just before they left the church.

Special thanks, as always, to the talented Benfield Photography team for their beautiful way of capturing Brittany & Chase's wedding day and for sharing their images with us. Come back this week for a glimpse into the backyard reception of these two lovebirds.

Guess where I am? Not in the office....

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 14:00:00 +0000

That's right! My honey has swept me away to a much warmer place on this earth for some much needed Mom & Dad relaxation. I will be back in the office next week! Until then, enjoy browsing and find inspiration for your wedding day! And, yes, that picture above is where I am right now!!!

One & Only Palmilla

The Brides {and moms!} Tell All: Lucy Semple

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:00:00 +0000

{Remember when I said I was 9 months preggo at this wedding? Love those pregnant chubby cheeks!}

Here are Lucy and Cynthia's Wedding Woes and Wisdom for you brides and moms out there....

From your own experience, what advice would you give other women for their wedding day?
Listen to the expert (Jenessa) for wisdom she’s gained from experience, but if you feel strongly about something, remember that this is your day! Tear out as many pictures of things you like and don’t like (from flowers, table arrangements, paper products, etc…). This makes it easier to figure out your style and vision for the day.

Looking back, are there any details from your wedding you would have changed or excluded?
Absolutely not. My day was actually exactly how I imagined and hoped it would be. ☺

In your opinion, what are some good ways to keep costs low when planning a wedding?
Prioritize. I LOVE flowers, so that was a priority for me. I was not as concerned about other things. Also, be willing to do some work yourself. I know we saved money because I was willing to type up my “guest booklets” that we put in everyone’s rooms and then we had an expert (Sincerely Yours) make what I wrote look pretty.

In what ways did you make your wedding and reception different from all the rest?
-We served some of our favorite foods (queso, chips, salsa, bread pudding),
-we had 3 types of personalized cookies as party favors,
-we used our save the date as sort of a ‘theme” and carried it through onto our guest boxes and cookies,
-we had a “day of the wedding” bbq lunch so that all of our guests could get together
-we brought in a cigar roller for the men to enjoy
-we had a photo booth which entertained adults and kids
-signs that said “Sparklers to light the Semple’s way” and “Sweets to send you on your way” on our departure table that included sparklers, personalized matches, and cookies.
-we had pizza brought in about 45 minutes before we departed as a sort of “late-night treat”. It was a hit!

What was your favorite detail about your wedding and reception?
The flowers!!! I had torn out so many pictures and had described as best I could what I wanted it to look like and the flowers were beyond my wildest expectations. They were amazing!

What was your favorite experience or memory from your wedding and reception?
Taking a few minutes to walk around just my husband and me and take in everything at the wedding. We took a few minutes to talk to eachother and walk around the entire reception without talking to guests…..those are the pictures in my mind that are not a blur. I also remember dancing a lot – I wanted to have fun at my wedding and I did! ☺

What is the best way to keep your guests excited and involved at the reception, so they won’t leave early?
Surprise them by having some things that are “special” and not like all the others……We had a few:
The pizza that we brought in a little bit before our departure was one fun part.
Our band was REALLY great, so people wanted to keep dancing.
The photo booth helped the children stay entertained so that they weren’t ready to leave.
My mom kept telling her friends that they shouldn’t leave because the sparklers were going to be so pretty! ☺

What do you suggest as good wedding music? Is it best to use live music or a DJ?
I think it totally depends on budget. If you can afford it, a live band always helps to get the party going and get people on the dance floor. They can also “Read” the crowd to see what type of music they should go to next. If you have a DJ or a CD playing, just make sure to consider what type of music you want playing when. Be specific with whomever you work with so that they know what YOU like and what music YOU enjoy. I remember that our band played a couple of songs that weren’t our style, so we went to them and asked them to go another direction and the problem was solved.

What is something that stressed you out while planning, and how did you alleviate that stress and what solution did you find for the problem?
Most of my stress was because I was planning a Fayetteville wedding from Dallas and I felt out of the loop sometimes. Jenessa always did a wonderful job of calming me down and getting me back into the loop. ☺ Other than that, the most stressful is the budget, for sure! My advice for both issues is just to communicate with everyone you are working with. Our flower budget was a bit higher than we wanted it, so my mom had a long phone call and went through all of the expenses with our florist. They were able to compromise on some changes and the problem was solved.

What is something you did not expect about planning a wedding that you experienced?
Bonding with so many of the vendors we worked with for those months. We were lucky to have worked with wonderful people who I now consider friends! It was also special bonding for my mom and I because we did so much of it together. It can be stressful, but it also has so many fun parts!!!

Thanks, Lu! Now on to Cynthia...
What did you enjoy most about your daughter’s wedding day?
I loved the whole day, but especially the actual wedding and reception. It was all we had planned for and hoped it would be.

Was there any detail about the wedding and reception that made it unique to your daughter and her personality?
Both venues (a small chapel and the barn) were perfect for her.

What would have made wedding planning an easier and more enjoyable experience?
It was an enjoyable experience, and I wouldn’t change anything.

What expense was well worth the cost?
Flowers

If a mother of the bride is not seeing eye to eye with her daughter when planning a wedding, what advice would you give her?
It’s the daughter’s wedding, not hers.

How involved were you with the wedding planning? Do you wish you would have been more or less involved?
I was very involved in assisting and carrying out plans, but my daughter made all the major decisions. I wouldn’t change it at all.

I hope you have enjoyed learning all about Lucy and Chris' wedding day from start to finish! Leave some comment love or any questions you have below!

Lucy and Chris' Pratt Place Barn Reception Comes to Life

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Want to see Lucy's beautiful reception come to life? Check out this super fun time-lapse video of the process!

Come back tomorrow to hear advice from Mrs. Lucy and her mom, Cynthia!

Lucy and Chris' Pratt Place Barn Reception

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Following Lucy & Chris' ceremony, guests were whisked away to the lovely Pratt Place Barn for the celebration of this new marriage. The flowers, food, and entertainment were to die for!

The draping in the Barn for this reception was truly a new concept, never before created at Pratt Place. We chose to draw the eye upward to accent the Barn's architecture. Floral wreaths and trailing ribbons hung from the Barn's iron lanterns down the center of the venue.

Lush, sweet centerpieces were presented in many variations to create visual interest at different heights in the room, as well as different textures as your eyes swept the room. All of the arrangements were surrounded with twinkling candlelight to make the room glisten. So much loveliness to take in!

The stunning cake was highlighted with pin spot lighting, as well as framed by a floral wreath hanging above. This cake was created with the most intricate details, including folded sugar flowers and golden ribbon, an identical match to the bride's couture wedding gown. Its prominent placement in the center of the room made it a highlight of the reception design.

Guests danced to the beats of Dallas party band, Cuvee, snapped crazy party pics in the photo booth, and enjoyed hand-rolled cigars on site throughout the evening. {Sorry, Cyn, but this is one of my favorite photos from the whole wedding! Woo Pig!}

Before heading out the door, guests had their choice of custom sweets. Lucy and Chris chose their signature wedding design, a nod to their Texas home, and a hand drawn image of the Barn all to be laid on sweet cookies. Sparklers were passed out for the grand getaway, and the horns played "When the Saints Go Marching In" as the newlyweds went on their merry way!

Lucy and Chris' wedding day was a true reflection of them, their families, and their friends. Their vision came to life with the work of so many talented vendors from a multitude of states! What has been your favorite aspect of this wedding? Let us know by leaving your comment below! Come back on Monday and Tuesday to see {yep with video!} how the Barn was transformed, and to hear advice from the bride and her lovely mother!

The Vendor Team:
Wedding Coordination: J.Bailey Occasions
Photography: Polito Photography
Videography: NILO Productions
Ceremony Venue: Stone Chapel at Matt Lane Farm
Reception Venue: Pratt Place Barn
Floral Design, Draping, Lighting: Distinctive Designs by Tanarah
Rentals: Festivities
Catering & Bar: Catering Connection
Cake and Cookies: Shelby Lynn's
Wedding Invitations and Paper Lovelies: Sincerely Yours Paper
Photo Booth: Making Memories Photo Booth
Band: Cuvee
Transportation: HETXNA

Lucy and Chris' Stone Chapel Wedding Ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Lucy and Chris were married Saturday, March 13th at Stone Chapel at Matt-Lane Farm. After sitting through a wreck at the entrance (see that story here) we were able to move forward with the I Do's!

A few of my favorite details from the ceremony were the tall and lush altar arrangements in garden urns, tied with a cream sash. I also thought that the lovely pew markers of soft green and peach hydrangea with trailing ribbons were a perfect match for this antique-styled setting.

It's about time to get married! Sweet father of the bride, W.L. is about to walk his last little girl down the aisle! I love the garlands created for the entrance at the Chapel's antique doors.

And, finally Lucy and Chris are saying their vows and on their way to becoming Mr. and Mrs! What a lovely ceremony!

Come back this week to see their sweet, Southern reception! Thank you to the team from Polito Photography of Dallas, Texas for the beautiful photos.

Lucy's Bridal Florals & Details

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Today I wanted to share some of the details on the "personal" side of things for Lucy & her girls. The ladies all prepared for the day at the Inn at Carnall Hall. Here, we took family photos and gave each of the wedding party their personal flowers. All of the gorgeous florals were created by Distinctive Designs by Tanarah out of Little Rock.
The bridal bouquet was made up of garden creams, greens, and whites.

Bridesmaids carried hand-tied bouquets of soft peach garden roses, green hydrangea, and cream peonies to compliment their soft green and gold dresses.

Before we headed off to the Chapel, the bride stopped for a sweet photo with her incredibly precious nieces. Can it get any cuter?

Heading out the door we wrapped Lucy up in this adorable cream shrug that a bridesmaid had on hand. It was the perfect accessory for this March bride.

Come back tomorrow to see the wedding ceremony of Lucy and Chris! Photos all courtesy of Polito Photography of Dallas.

Lucy and Chris' Spring Arkansas Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:20:00 +0000

As we approach the Spring wedding season, I am thinking back on all of the lovely 2010 spring weddings that we were a part of. I was big & chubby & 9 months pregnant when this "destination Fayetteville" event took place {yep, D was born 2 weeks later!} for Lucy and Chris. I am hoping that now the details and stories from these brides' weddings can provide inspiration for you as you plan your big day.

A few pre-wedding details that were FABULOUS were all creations of the one & only Amy Hannon! When I say "Destination Fayetteville" I mean that Lucy and Chris truly treated their plans as a destination wedding, as they and their guests all lived in different locations. None in NWA! To announce the date, directions, and give them guidance through their time here in Arkansas, Lucy enlisted the always-creative Amy Hannon of Sincerely Yours Paper! Here are a few of Amy's photographs of Lucy's wedding paper suite.

Lucy's Save the Date was a fun, custom design that you won't want to miss! Want to see what's inside of this blue window wrap? Click here!

Next up, her wedding invitation suite was full of classic creams and golds, along with a hand drawn map of Fayetteville itself. To see more about Lucy's invitation suite, click here.

When guests arrived, they were greeted by fun guest boxes in their hotel rooms. You'll notice that the logo from the Save the Date has been modified to say WELCOME! We filled boxes with bottled waters with custom labels, handmade soaps from the mother of the groom with custom labels, snacks, and their wedding weekend guide.

Lucy's Wedding Weekend Guide was even recently featured in Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine Special Travel Issue!

Don't you just love what you see? It's so much fun to continue a look & theme from the first time your wedding is announced (Save the Date!) until they leave at the end of your big day! Check out more of Amy's incredible work today at Sincerely Yours Paper. This week we'll be going through every detail, which will inspire you at every turn! Come back tomorrow as we begin with Lucy's personal flowers. You're gonna love em!

Have you heard? A Proposal Contest!

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 21:44:00 +0000

For brides-to-be and brides of 1, 10, 25, and even 50 years....here's a fun contest for you! Remember the day that your honey got down on his knee and asked you to be his forever? Think back...think about all of the details. Now, read on for this exciting proposal contest from Sincerely Yours Paper! The rest is written by Amy herself...

It's a Sincerely Yours Paper Wedding Proposal Contest! {cheer and applause...harps playing....doves cooing}

And the best part?! ANYONE who has been proposed to can enter! If you are recently engaged, a newlywed, married for 16 years like me or have experienced 50 years of wedded bliss... YOU CAN ENTER!

But here's the catch...PAPER MUST BE INVOLVED IN YOUR PROPOSAL STORY! For example...
Did your groom pen you a note?
Was your ring wrapped in a little paper bag?
Were you read a poem from a piece of paper?
Did you have dinner in a pizza parlor with the proposal written on a paper table cloth?
Did you eat cupcakes in paper wrappers?
Was your husband in a war and asked you in a letter?
Were you at a ballgame with paper tickets?
Did your hubby propose to you at a yummy surprise picnic on paper plates?
{that's part of MY story!}
Deck of cards? Paper airplane? Special book?

Ok, now for more of the details head over to Amy's blog and see how to enter, when to enter, and best of all what the winning stash is! And someone that you just might know & love just MAY be on the panel to help select the top stories! {Wink!}

And just for fun, a really adorable proposal video! He used paper, too!

Welcome 2011

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:29:00 +0000

So 2011 may have come around, oh say 27 days ago, but I haven't squealed 'Happy New Year' to you yet! So....HAPPY NEW YEAR! This upcoming year is going to be a fun one, filled with blushing brides with weddings styled in fun, new exciting ways.

I'd love to introduce you to our newest brides & grooms for 2011...

Meredith & Dale will be married in an intimate Italian wedding, but we'll be celebrating back in Fayetteville with a funky-rustic reception!

Of course this image is from Benfield Photography!

Sarah and Brady are hosting an art-deco styled Spring fete on the grounds of Pratt Place Inn and Barn in early May.

Photo by Danielle Davis

Lauren and Ryan are having a sweetheart's hometown wedding back in Mountain Home, Arkansas where many surprises are in store for everyone. Think Southern and sparkly for Memorial Day Weekend!

Another image from Benfield Photography

Lisa and Joseph will say 'I Do' as we transform a space from blank canvas to whimsical chic. And maybe, just maybe Joseph will get a koala bear in there somehow. {wink!}

Micah and Jarred, a Colorado Springs duo, are planning a sweet riverfront soiree in Fort Smith. First, they'll make it official in Micah's home church at Grand Avenue Baptist before we dance outside under the stars!

Photo by Matthew John Photography

There you have it, our newest additions to the fam. We are so excited about how different each couple's style is from the next and how adorable each couple is. I can feel it, this is gonna be our best year yet!

Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:24:00 +0000

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Bailey family!

Photos by Benfield Photography

Wedding Woes and Wisdom: The Brides Tell All, Kimberly Phillips Cunningham

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 19:26:00 +0000

It's advice time again! This "The Brides Tell All" comes from Mrs. Kimberly Phillips Cunningham, who married her handsome groom, Chase, on August 28th. The wedding ceremony took place at the sweet Chapel on the Creeks in Rogers and the rockin' reception was hosted at the Fayetteville Town Center. This bride loved pink, slate grey, and loads of bling & candle light for her wedding. The guests were treated to a cocktail hour with hand passed hors d'oeuvres, a multi-course seated dinner, and one heck of a party! We created the bride's lounge like setting using custom lighting, an LED dance floor, swanky lounge furniture, and crystal shimmering chandeliers. The U-shaped dinner table allowed all of the guests to be seated at one table with the dance floor as the centerpiece. To see more images (by the fab Benfield Photography team) visit our website and click on the Kimberly and Chase gallery! (Or see them on our Facebook page by clicking here!)

Take it away, Mrs.Cunningham...

From your own experience, what advice would you give other women for their wedding day?
Spend the extra money to have a great planner! Not a single thing went wrong on my wedding day! I'm not sure many brides can say that but I'm grateful because I can. My entire wedding party arrived at the chapel early and Jenessa arrived a few minutes later. She seemed like her morning had gone well and we made conversation as usual, but I had to ask about the reception. She told me that they were so ahead of schedule and that when she left Ki was vacuuming! I asked if all my vendors showed up and she told me everything had been set for a few hours! I was impressed! We were so ahead of schedule I had time to dance in the waiting area to my favorite song and grab lunch all before walking down the aisle!

Looking back, are there any details from your wedding you would have changed or excluded?
Looking back, I probably would not have included response cards in my invitations. I would have just included our wedding website and allowed guests to RSVP there. It would have saved me the additonal costs on my stationery and I ended up having to contact all my guests individually anyway.

In your opinion, what are some good ways to keep costs low when planning a wedding?
The best way to keep down costs it to shop around. I was engaged for two years and I spent most of my days of on the phone with vendors trying to get what I wanted at a price I needed. For the wedding I had and the experience we were able to give our guests, I feel like I had a dream on a bargain!

In what ways did you make your wedding and reception different from all the rest?
I keep my wedding ceremony decorated very simply. I had a few "wow" details such as my aisle runner and monogram intial wreaths, but I wanted my guests to focus on the commitment Chase and I were making to one another. For the reception, we wanted guests have great food and drinks! We made sure all the food tasted great and we had a well stocked bar!

What was your favorite detail about your wedding and reception?
I loved our "send off" from the ceremony. We were showered with pink rose petals and it made incredible photos. It was nice because the petals were soft unlike rice and they were so vibrant against the white of my wedding dress.

What was your favorite experience or memory from your wedding and reception?
My favorite experience was our "first meeting" at the chapel. Chase had been very apprehensive about my wedding dress because he was not involved in the process of choosing it and he had been particpating in every other aspect of the wedding. So I had been a nervous wreck for about the last month...even going as far as going back to the wedding salon and trying on more dresses! So when I walked down the aisle to meet him I was very excited but sooo nervous. When I turned around Chase immediately began to tear up and told me that I was so beautiful and that was exactly what I needed him to say on our wedding day. We talked about our day leading up to the wedding and how excited we were to be getting married after about 7 years. We whispered and cried for what seemed like an hour. It was so special and memorable because it was something shared between just us....even though my aunt begged to let me let her sit on the pew and watch. :)

What is the best way to keep your guests excited and involved at the reception, so they won’t leave early?
Keep things moving along! Just remember if you start to get bored or thinking what's coming next, then your guests have been bored for awhile because it's not their special day. Grab your wedding planner and let her know you're ready for the next event to get things moving or ask your DJ to play a song you know will get everyone on their feet.

What do you suggest as good wedding music? Is it best to use live music or a CD?
I love the idea of live music if you use a band that can vary the style that they play. However, we used a DJ that we have known our entire relationship. He was the DJ at the first party where we had our first dance, and our friends experienced college with him as well. He was a perfect fit for our family and friends!

What is something that stressed you out while planning, and how did you alleviate that stress and what solution did you find for the problem?
I really stressed about my guest count. We had a large venue but we also included a lot of elements like an ice sculpture and lounge furniture. This really limited the number of guests I could invite. Jenessa helped me plan for some additional seating arrangements if we needed it and once the wedding day arrived Ki made sure my guests stuck to their placecards! It worked out great and all the special people in my life were there.

What is something you did not expect about planning a wedding that you experienced?
I did not expect to be so relaxed!!! We were really ahead of schedule all day and it made things so peaceful! It gave me time to enjoy the people I was with and take in every moment. I had such a carefree wedding and that was thanks to my wedding planner, Jenessa! Thank you for everything!

Thank you Kimberly! Don't forget to pick up the January issue of Citiscapes magazine to see more of this fabulous wedding! Be sure to see their full gallery on our website! Click on 'Galleries' then 'Kimberly and Chase' at the top of the page. Thanks, Benfield Photography for the beautiful photos!

And now for some additional vendor love:
Florist (bouquets, monogram letters, petals): Jules Design
Catering and Bar: Catering Unlimited
DJ: DJ Derrick
Lighting, Dance Floor: Event Production Group
Rentals: Festivities, Eventures, Unforgettables
Cake: Shelby Lynn's
Transportation: Pinnacle Limo

Blessed

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 21:10:00 +0000

As my husband, Mark, and I have experienced great loss over the past week, we have also been renewed with a spirit of thanksgiving for many reasons. You see, Mark lost a lifelong friend last week very unexpectedly. Josh Neal was one of the boys that Mark can claim knowing literally from birth, and OH MY the pictures of them growing up are hilarious & awkward, just like any pictures of us experiencing life as adolescents. Josh and Mark's parents have been best friends for quite some time, so even when distance got in between friendships we were always able to know what was going on with each other.

In the midst of this time, the thought of gratitude has been pressed upon our hearts. We are thankful for the opportunity for Mark to have grown up with such a fun friend. We are thankful for the example that Josh's parents have set for us as we raise our little one. We are thankful for the love-filled life that Josh led with his precious wife, Laura, and how we realize that we need to have as much fun as they have had in their marriage.

Above all else, we are grateful for the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us on the cross, and the promise that came along with it. He died so that we might live a life of freedom, filled with grace and mercy no matter how much we screw up or how big our mistakes are. The Lord's grace is abundant. We don't deserve it, but it is. Josh loved the Lord and believed in His promises, and now we are able to have peace in our hearts that Josh is walking side by side with Jesus. Literally, he gets to hang out with Him! How cool is that? If you haven't had the chance to know about what Jesus has to offer with no strings attached I hope that you will contact me so that I can tell you how wonderful it is. All He asks is that you do your best, and when we fall short He is right there to pick us back up.

We are blessed.

Pratt Place Barn Winter Special

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 22:27:00 +0000

The lovely Rachel Kirksey from the Pratt Place Inn and Barn sent several of us in the wedding world a very exciting email that I just had to share with you. They are running a great promotion where their rates during the first months of 2011 are highly discounted! If you are looking for a charming location for your wedding or event, this might just be the perfect fit!

Read on for the details of the Pratt Place Barn Winter Special from Rachel...

We're running a Winter Special on Pratt Place Barn and it's a STEAL! We're booking January, February, and March events for up to HALF OFF the normal rate!!

If you're looking to host an event, have a client who needs a venue, or just know someone who wants to throw a party, send them our way!

Rates for Winter Special *
Monday - Thursday: $900
Friday: $1500
Sunday: $1500

*All rental periods run 8am to 6am the next day. Rates apply to January 1 - March 31, 2011. Saturdays are $3950 (normal rental rate).

If you have questions about this promotion or about Pratt Place Barn please don't hesitate to contact me!
Rachel Kirksey: (w) 479.966.4441 (c) 479.531.0761 or events@prattplaceinn.com

Thanks Rachel!

Wedding Woes and Wisdom: Mother Knows Best

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:00:00 +0000

This week's Mother Knows Best comes from the Memphis belle, Denise Rose. She is the mother of the now Chelsea Jewell, who married the handsome Seth on May 29, 2010. Denise was a mom who was very involved in the process for a multitude of reasons. Number One, she was the only one of us on the planning team in the event city! Number Two, smarty-pants Chelsea and Seth were both juggling graduate school at the time. And Number Three, she is a super crafty, super creative mom who had lots of great ideas. Read on to learn more from this Mother of the Bride...

What did you enjoy most about your daughter’s wedding day?

I enjoyed the entire thing! I especially loved seeing how much she was enjoying herself and how all the planning was worth it!

Was there any detail about the wedding and reception that made it unique to your daughter and her personality?

I think the entire wedding had her personality in it. She was very specific on many of the details and we made sure to try to think of everything that would make the day special for them. However, having the reception at a fabulous new building at the Memphis Zoo was really quite appropriate for her personality. When she was a baby and would get really fussy, I would put her in her stroller and head straight to the zoo to walk around. It would always calm her and she loved it there. It was quite special then to have her wedding reception there many years later!

What would have made wedding planning an easier and more enjoyable experience?

It would have been a little easier if she had lived here in the city where she was getting married, but really, with the help of Jenessa and email and the internet, it really wasn’t as bad as I originally thought it would be with her living five hours away during the planning process.

What expense was well worth the cost?

Definitely having Jenessa and her team! I would have never believed it before we did this, but I was truly able to enjoy the entire event and every moment of it without having to worry about things getting done. I have had so many guests comment since the wedding of how smoothly everything went and how relaxed I looked. We also had the best photographer and they also made things very special for the bride and groom’s wedding day and worked very well with Jenessa and her team, so the money spent on that was also worth the cost.

If a mother of the bride is not seeing eye to eye with her daughter when planning a wedding, what advice would you give her?

I think every mother and daughter have their own way of dealing with conflict, so this one is hard to answer. I would just say that trying to let each person explain their point of view on a disagreement calmly is the most important thing. It is sometimes difficult to get your point across on something when emotions are involved, and this is very evident when planning a wedding! I do think keeping a priority list of the things that are MOST important to the bride herself from the beginning helps to keep things on track and helps to avoid some disagreements in the planning process.

How involved were you with the wedding planning? Do you wish you would have been more or less involved?

I did as much as I wanted to do. I tried to help by doing some things that my daughter couldn’t do because she was finishing up her Master’s degree while planning the wedding, but having Jenessa was great because she helped with the timing part of when we needed to do what, and that was something I was a little unsure about. I think I was the right amount of involved for me. I felt like I did something, but also let my daughter do the things she wanted to do too, so it all worked out beautifully!

Thank you, Mrs.Denise! Great advice for all of the mommas out there!

Wedding Woes and Wisdom: The Brides Tell All

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:00:00 +0000

This week's bride feature is from the lovely Chelsea Jewell, whose wedding details you have seen on the blog in the past day or so. Chelsea was a wonderful, fun bride to work with. We had three major obstacles that we managed during her engagement. First, this girl does it all. Between grad school, teaching, and planning a wedding we had a tight schedule to work within for planning. Second, while Chelsea and I are located in NWA, the wedding was taking place in Memphis. Can you believe it only took one trip to Memphis for my crew to make this happen? And last, my baby boy was born a short two months just prior to this wedding date. Thankfully, Chelsea and Denise (her fun momma who you will hear from tomorrow) worked with me to be prepared ahead of time for my absence after D was born.

Here is some wonderful advice from this bride of 5 months:

From your own experience, what advice would you give other women for their wedding day?
Enjoy every minute of it!! After all of the planning, work, and stress, your day has finally arrived, and you need to have the time of your life! One of the best decisions we made was to hire a planner (not just any planner, the best!) to carry out our plans for the weekend. We had everything set and ready to go on Thursday so that my entire family was able to relax and enjoy the weekend! I highly recommend having someone help you that weekend (and all the weekends before) so that you don’t have to worry about all of the details falling into place.

Looking back, are there any details from your wedding you would have changed or excluded?
I loved the favors we passed out after our wedding (caramel corn in clear sacks with one of our engagement pictures printed on them), but we had so many left over! I liked them, but I think they were pretty overlooked when our guests were on their way out. I think this is the one thing that might’ve been unnecessary.

In your opinion, what are some good ways to keep costs low when planning a wedding?
I think it is really important to prioritize when selecting everything for your wedding. By determining what is most important to you, you can decide where to focus your money. In the end, you can save money on things that are less important to you.

In what ways did you make your wedding and reception different from all the rest?
In Memphis, there are several great reception venues, but we have been to numerous weddings at all of them. Seth saw online that the Memphis Zoo (a nationally-recognized award-winning zoo) hosted weddings, and he was insistent that we looked into it. I am so glad that we did! Our reception venue was pretty unique, especially for our guests from out-of-town, and I think it made for a gorgeous site and a great party!

What was your favorite detail about your wedding and reception?
I loved, loved, loved the flowers and the candlelight at our ceremony. It was just what I had envisioned! I also loved some of the smaller details that I think were somewhat different… the monogrammed wrap for my bouquet, our silver monogrammed toasting cups, my “Mrs. Jewell” hanger for my wedding dress, and our ring bearer pillow that now lives on our bed at home. I had such a great time selecting even the smallest details for our wedding and reception, and I loved how it all come together wonderfully!

What was your favorite experience or memory from your wedding and reception?
Hmm… so hard to choose a favorite! I loved spending the day with my best friends getting ready with the anticipation of finally marrying my best friend! Putting my dress on and the walk to meet my husband-to-be was such a surreal experience, and I love that I remember every second of it! I didn’t want to be a bride who looks back and says “It was all such a blur,” so I tried to really take in every moment and every detail. I am so glad I did! I also loved our reception because we were able to visit with all of our friends and family, but we also really enjoyed the band and dancing together! It was the perfect combination.

What is the best way to keep your guests excited and involved at the reception, so they won’t leave early?
Make it a party! If you want your guests to be entertained enough to stay, it needs to be fun! We had a great group of people that stayed on the dance floor, enjoying drinks and food, until we left. We wanted our reception to be fun for our guests, so that they didn’t feel obligated to stick around, and I think we achieved that!

What do you suggest as good wedding music? Is it best to use live music or a CD?
Being from Memphis, we have such a great selection of bands that most of the weddings we attend have awesome live music. I’ve been to some great weddings with DJs, but a band can set such a fun vibe that I don’t think you get with a DJ and CDs.

What is something that stressed you out while planning, and how did you alleviate that stress and what solution did you find for the problem?
Oh, I pretty much stressed about everything! ☺ Like I mentioned earlier, I realized pretty quickly that we needed to prioritize what was most important to us. We wanted to host a party that our friends would enjoy and that would be a great way to celebrate our nine years of dating finally resulting in a wonderful marriage. Through endless discussions about what we wanted and what wasn’t as important to us, it became easier and less stressful to make decisions. You have to make a TON of decisions when planning a wedding, and I had a wonderful mom, fiancé, and wedding planner to help me. That is the solution… find good friends to help keep you calm and make decisions!! ☺

What is something you did not expect about planning a wedding that you experienced?
I didn’t expect everything to book so quickly! We started planning almost 15 months out, and because we did, we were able to get everything we wanted. Had we waited about a month or so later, all of our preferences would’ve been booked. I was just very surprised at how far in advance wedding vendors fill up, especially for a summer weekend wedding.

Thank you, Mrs.Jewell! I know that your advice will be super helpful to all of those brides-to-be out there! Tune in tomorrow to hear from this girl's Mother of the Bride! Thanks, Benfield Photography for the pic at the top!

Chelsea Rose and Seth Jewell say I DO in Memphis, Tennessee

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:00:00 +0000

It was one of my truest pleasures when this wonderful couple asked me if I would plan a Memphis wedding. I met Chelsea and Seth while I was on staff at the University of Arkansas, and fell in love with their story, their relationship, and the two of them both as individuals and as a couple. I remember the night that I saw Chelsea volunteering at an event just after getting engaged. I was secretly sad that they were getting married in her hometown and that I probably wouldn't be able to help plan the big day.

After a few months (and after tearfully watching their engagement video...maybe more than once), I got a call from the bride-to-be that they wanted to chat about bringing me on board despite the long distance. From there, we hit the ground running. Thanks to the internet, email, wonderful vendors, and a great mom in Memphis we were able to make this day happen.

There were so many fun details of this wedding, but I had to narrow down my favorite moments.
Check out her Mrs.Jewell hanger for her bridal gown!

Moments like this are what make wedding days wonderful! Seth was surrounded by his best friends, and covered in prayer before tying the knot.

Just moments before seeing each other for the first time on their wedding day, I love the focus and anticipation captured here.

And this is why you see each other before! This moment just couldn't happen in a ceremony. Remember that you can react however you would like when you have private time. Tears, jumping & skipping, hugging & kissing...you name it, I've probably seen it! And I love it every time!

How cute! Take a close look at the kiddos in this shot.

The ceremony was designed with the colorful church in mind. Chelsea wanted something simple, but would also make a statement. We chose 3 large arrangements for the altar, surrounded by varying heights of floating candles. The pews were marked with lush nosegays of white flowers, and the doors leading into the sanctuary were adorned with beautiful floral wreaths. The center aisle was also "ribboned off" with a floral garland that was removed for the wedding party processional.

Here are our little lovebirds in the church!

One of my favorite details that Chelsea carried was her monogrammed bouquet wrap with her new married monogram! She will be able to use this in her home for years to come.

The bridesmaids carried neutral white and green bouquets to pop against their royal, floor length dresses.

Here's Ki checking the list twice before sending Chelsea & Seth down the aisle.

A teary eyed bride is about to walk the aisle and marry her childhood sweetheart! This image is a perfect way to show you that even if you see your groom prior to the ceremony, you still have all of the emotion that comes with the big moment!

Adorable flower girls make their way down the aisle...

The ceremony was perfect! It was the best representation of Chelsea and Seth, and I am pretty sure there were no dry eyes!

This super cool getaway car can also be seen in the movie "Walk the Line!"

The reception was held at the newest venue in the Memphis Zoo, the gorgeous Teton Trek!

The Teton Trek was a truly unique venue, perfect for this simple J.Crew-style wedding. Guests were greeted with a geyser shooting high into the sky!

Here is a view of the back of the Teton Trek, taken from above the waterfall!

And here is the backdrop of the Teton Trek at night. During the day, this is where the bears play, and the gorgeous waterfall runs throughout the evening.

Here are some of our centerpieces, all made up of white and green flowers, surrounded by candlelight. Chelsea chose a beautiful twisted taffeta in a a royal shade of blue for her linens, so these neutral yet vibrant flowers popped right off of the tabletops.

We had guest tables lining the zoo path in the back of the venue, all decorated with the bright white centerpieces.

The bride's cake was simple and stunning, sitting in front of a gorgeous backdrop. The Teton Trek's fireplace mantel went from floor to ceiling (I would guess 40-50 feet). We designed the floral and candlelight accents just for a photo like this. The fireplace was 2-sided, so since we had a cool evening we had it running for the guests sitting on the back patio.

And this incredible groom's cake showed off one of his true passions, fishing!

We had a custom GOBO for the dance floor, which was designed by Amy Nelson Hannon of Sincerely Yours Paper. Guests had been introduced to this logo in the couple's invitation suite. You can see it here!

Chelsea carried her Chi Omega hankie with her as she said "I Do."

Which later led to the Chi Omega circle of beautiful ladies singing to the beautiful bride!

And here is one of my favorite shots ever! Dale and Mere just happened to be behind the newlyweds as they drove back to their wedding night hotel. They snapped this picture from their car. What a perfect ending!

Didn't Dale and Mere from Benfield Photography do a gorgeous job of capturing the day? I am in love with the way they showcased Chelsea & Seth's day. Thanks for sharing the photos!

Check back this week for advice from the bride & mother of the bride! Chelsea and Seth, what a treat to be a part of your wedding day. Thank you for taking the "risk" of hiring us when we had never worked in Memphis before and for trusting that we could get the job done. It was a beautiful day that we will never forget, and will count as one of our favorites for the books!

2010 In Review

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:34:00 +0000

Hey hey blog readers! This year we all know that my blog has been nothing short of absent, but can't we all agree that it has been for one very CUTE reason? That's right, my baby boy Dyer has taken up the "extra" minutes of the days that were filled with blogging, website updates, and sharing some super fabulous real weddings with you in my "past life." Would I trade a second? No way! But now, it's time to play catch up!

I will be featuring the weddings that have happened since spring of this year in the upcoming weeks on the blog. Not only will you get to see many of the fabulous details and moments that truly made these days turn into life's best celebrations, but you will also hear from many of the brides & their mommas with advice for you brides- and mothers of the brides-to-be out there. And believe me, it's some great advice!

We'll get started tomorrow with the Memphis, Tennessee nuptials of Chelsea and Seth Jewell. Tune in for the details on Tuesday, advice from Chelsea on Wednesday, and tips from Denise on Thursday. It's one you don't want to miss!

Here are some other weddings that we will be highlighting in the weeks to come:
Lucy & Chris Semple's Spring Stone Chapel Wedding & Pratt Place Barn Reception
Brittany & Chase Priest's May Central UMC Wedding & At Home Reception
Rachel & Travis' June Old Main Lawn Wedding & Inn at Carnall Hall Reception
Kimberly & Chase Cunningham's August Chapel on the Creeks Wedding and Fayetteville Town Center Reception
Allison & Chris Elledge's Pratt Place Barn Wedding and Reception

We'll also be hearing from some 2009 brides & moms with their advice, including Maggie & Pamela! Are you excited yet? I am!

Shiloh and Jonathan: An Arkansas Destination Wedding at the Pratt Place Barn

noreply@blogger.com (J.Bailey Occasions) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:28:00 +0000

On Saturday, September 18th two New Yorkers were wed at the beautiful Pratt Place Inn and Barn in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Shiloh, a native Arkansan, knew she wanted all of her friends and her fiancee, Jonathan, from the North to fall in love with her home state. And from the energy and atmosphere of a Friday night welcome on Dickson Street, to a Saturday cheering on the Hogs as they pulled a last minute victory on the Georgia Bulldogs, to a truly casually elegant wedding at the Pratt Place Barn, I am pretty sure this bride made it happen.

Shiloh wanted to showcase a true Southern soiree in the details of this wedding. They started with a fabulous location, a charming red barn, in the Pratt Place Barn.

Where do we begin? How about with some of the fun pre-wedding details!
Here is the beautiful bride's bouquet, which was adorned with vintage cameo broaches. The bride also wore a vintage cameo ring.

She gifted these truly rustic tote bags to her bridesmaids, each with their personal monogram stamped on the front. The bride and her girls all donned their cowgirl boots for the reception.

Jonathan, the super stylish groom, had a custom suit made for the big day. It was pretty swanky if you ask me. The striped lining was my favorite part, along with bringing in a vibrant lavendar in the guys' ties & socks to complement their navy jackets and pants. Check out his great boutonniere as well!

While we weren't planning on a sweltering evening in September, we got one! We tucked Shiloh & Jonathan's ceremony into a lush nook on the Pratt Place grounds hoping for gorgeous scenery and a shield from the sun. Look at the sweet setting we found. I love this shot of Shiloh and her dad coming over the crest of the lawn to make her way down the aisle.

The simple square arch was a gorgeous pop of bright white in front of the green backdrop.

Time to celebrate! Here they are as Mr. and Mrs!

After the ceremony the guests were invited to a fun cocktail hour on the lawn of the Barn. We set up lawn games, including Washer Toss, Horseshoes, Bean Bag Toss, and Bocce with cocktail tables at each station for guests to set their drinks while they played a round. On the patio of the barn, we draped bales of hay with navy linens and set up stations for checkers games. These games were played late into the night. I must say, this was a hit, and probably my favorite part of the wedding.

Have I mentioned that this bride LOVES piggies? We served a beer called Pork Slap {thanks to Shiloh's wonderful parents for going out of their way to find this on the East coast} during the cocktail hour just for its fun can. And, it's one heck of a beer according to S&J!

On to the reception details...

Guests were greeted as the Barn doors opened to a fun display of escort cards, with a custom burlap banner reading "PLACE," the couple's last name, hanging above. Each card had the guest's name and their table assignment inside the outline of the Natural State. We displayed these in old barn wood frames and green grass mats.

You may have noticed that the escort cards had famous names on them. Did you know that these are all famous Arkansans? {John Daly, Bill Clinton, and Maya Angelou to name a few.} Shiloh named each table for one of our stellar natives, and provided each table with a quick bio on their host. They were all beautifully displayed in golden frames.

There was no mistaking whose seats these were. The bride and groom each had custom burlap banners for their seats at the head table.

The layout we designed for this room truly showcased the scale of the Barn. We chose two very long banquet tables running parallel to the Barn and a head table that ran across the front of the space. These tables were topped with gorgeous, simple tall arrangements of baby's breath and white larkspur.

The tabletops were filled with mason jars of candlelight and a variety of white and creme garden flowers. The gorgeous {and I mean GORGEOUS} feminine lace linens laid perfectly over the rough burlap to make a great contrast of texture and color. For a fun piece of interest, we chose a tiny gingham print in navy in white for the napkins, and tied them with jute.

The head table even had a few piggies, just for the bride, that we found at a local antique store.

This custom menu was the perfect display for a true Southern meal of barbecue. And of course, another piggie detail!

Shiloh chose her hometown band, Mr.Cabbagehead and the Screaming Radishes, to get (and keep) the dance floor hoppin'.

I'm pretty sure they did just that! This is a shot of the crowd dancing even BEFORE dinner began!

The bride's cake was sweet, simple, and stunning. I had the opportunity to surprise Shiloh and Jonathan with the vintage fireplace mantel display of family wedding photos just behind the cake. They were super excited that this detail came to life!

Shiloh surprised Jonathan with a really great groom's cake. He loved it!

Some Chi Omega sister love...

Now for some Razorback love...

As the guests were leaving we paid one last tribute to the great state of Arkansas in these state-shaped sweets from the bride's hometown bakery of Paul's in Van Buren.

We ended the night with a beautiful sparkler send-off!

Congratulations to Shiloh and Jonathan! It was a treat to be a part of such a fun day with you all, and I appreciate you and your lovely families. THANK YOU to all of the incredible, hard working wedding pros who made this such a tremendous success.

Photography: Benfield Photography (Thanks for all of the gorgeous shots! You can read their blog posts about this wedding here, here, and here!)
Videography: NILO Productions
Location: Pratt Place Barn
Flowers: Jules Design Events
Rentals: Festivities
Catering and Bar: Catering Unlimited
Cakes: Rick's Bakery
Music: Mr.Cabbagehead and the Screaming Radishes
Photo Booth: Vintage Photo Booths
Cookies: Paul's Bakery
Paper Products: Ashley Tucker
Guest Transportation: HETXNA