Sweet Pea Events - Seattle and Dallas

Holiday Glitz and Glamour – AND – Our New Intern!!!

2009-12-17T08:00:00.001-08:00

By Kelly Simants….AND…Katherine Dunnie

Please join me in welcoming Katherine Dunnie to the Sweet Pea Events team as our new Event Planning Associate/Intern! Besides learning the ins and outs of Wedding and Event Planning, she will be helping us with a variety of special projects…one of which is to create fun “Resource Guides” for our readers! If you’re a Wedding Professional, you’ll also note that Katherine is also helping us with Sage Wedding Pros, so you’ll see her in both places from time to time! :) She is located in Dallas, so if you’re a Dallas Wedding Pro, you’ll also see her around town with us at various networking events including “Thursday Therapy” – so be sure to introduce yourself if you haven’t already!

Without further ado, here is Katherine’s first Resource Guide - “Holiday Glitz and Glamour”! With the holidays literally right around the corner, you may be like me and you’re looking for that last-minute holiday dress or cute pair of new shoes! Here are a few ideas to help give you a jump-start so you look your best for that party!

Be sure to check back soon for Katherine’s Resource Guide for a “New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball”!

And finally…be sure to leave a comment for our “Cans for Comments” drive! We have extended the deadline until Saturday, 12/19! For each comment you leave on our blog, we’ll donate a can of food to help fight hunger!

Row 1: Red Dress by J. Crew (via J. Crew), Bow Earrings by Betsey Johnson (via Nordstrom), Silver Dress by Forever 21 (via Forever 21)

Row 2: Black Sequin Clutch from Steve Madden (via Steve Madden), Dark Silver Leather Shoe by Nine West (via Nine West), Pearl Necklace by Ralph Lauren (via Dillard’s)

Row 3: One-Shoulder Applique Green Dress from BCBG (via BCBG), Gold Bow Ring by Banana Republic (via Banana Republic, Crushed Glitter Magic Wallet by J Crew (via J. Crew)

Row 4: Wool Double Breasted Coat by White House Black Market (via White House Black Market), Black Fluffy Shoe by Nine West (via Nine West), Green Sequin Pouch by Coach (via Coach)

Enjoy!

Early-Bird Rate for “Sweet Success” Workshop Ends 12/12!

2009-12-11T09:09:00.001-08:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

If you are an aspiring Wedding Planner or know someone who is, check out our “Sweet Success” workshop! It’s a one-day intensive that is packed full of information that you need in order to set your Wedding Planning business up for success. Visit www.sweetsuccess.eventbrite.com for more info and to register! Last day for our early-bird pricing ends tomorrow, 12/12! Hope to see you there!

‘Tis the Season to Be Giving!

2009-12-10T13:09:00.001-08:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

Attention Dallas Wedding Pros! I wanted to make sure you knew about a great opportunity this holiday season to give back. The Dallas Chapter of ISES is throwing a holiday party benefiting Children’s Medical Center on Monday, December 14^th, from 6-9 pm at The Ryan Manor. The event is both a wonderful holiday party, and an opportunity to positively impact a hospitalized child with a toy donation. Their goal is to collect over 250 toys, and they are asking everyone to bring an unwrapped children’s gift (requested items include bouncy seats, crib aquariums, crib mobiles, portable CD players, Video games for Wii, Gamecube, XBOX 360, Playstation 2, Nintendo DS and gifts for teens).

Click here to RSVP. Hope to see you there!

Red Inspiration Board #2 - “Tomato Puree”

2009-12-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

Yesterday we featured a red inspiration board that was more dramatic and romantic in nature, and today we’re featuring a board that is a bit more “punchy” and bright. We’ve been hearing from our brides lately that they are loving fuchsia as a complimentary color, so I’ve used shades of fuchsia to pair with our “tomato puree” Pantone red. What do you think? Which is your favorite board so far out of the Pantone 2010 Spring Colors we’ve featured?

* Please leave a comment on our blog and we’ll donate a can of food to our local food banks in Dallas and Seattle!*

Thanks SO much to the very talented Wedding Pros who submitted images for this post!

Featured Above (from Left to Right): Julianne Smith of Julianne Smith Wedding Garters, Jeremy Gilliam of Jeremy Gilliam Photography, and our very own Holly-Kate Foss of Sweet Pea Events!

Row 1: Wedding Planning by Sweet Pea Events – image of bride’s shoes by Kim Hayes Photography; image of bouquet by Vim Studio (bouquet designed by Botanical Art Design)

Row 2: Just Married sign by Vim Studio and Wedding Planning by Sweet Pea Events; image of bride with red necklace by Jeremy Gilliam Photography

Row 3: Image of fans by Jeremy Gilliam Photography; garter by Julianne Smith Wedding Garters

Row 4: Wedding Planning by Sweet Pea Events: Floral arrangement image by John & Joseph Photography; image of personalized favor jars with espresso beans (yum!) by Cheri Pearl Photography

Red Inspiration Board #1- “Tomato Puree”

2009-12-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

This week we’re featuring the Pantone 2010 Spring Color, “Tomato Puree”…and we have sooo many amazing images and finds to share with you, that this will be a two-part post! Today’s inspiration board has more of a romantic and dramatic mood, while tomorrow’s post will be more whimsical and “springy”.

Thanks to the following A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Photographers and Event Engineer (Saundra!) who submitted these photos for this post!

From Left to Right: Stacy Reeves of Stacy Reeves Photography, Saundra Hadley of planning…forever events, Amy Karp of Amy Karp Photography, and Shauna Benoit of K & S Photography

** Be sure to leave a comment on our blog for “Cans for Comments” to help us donate to our local food banks in Dallas and Seattle! Each blog comment = one can of food! **

Row 1: Rings by Stacy Reeves Photography, Caramel Apples by Amy Karp Photography

Row 2: Bouquet and clutch by K & S Photography, Tablescape by planning…forever events

Rows 3/4: Bride by Stacy Reeves Photography, Tablescape by Amy Karp Photography, and escort cards by K & S Photography

Enjoy!

Photography Workshops in Dallas

2009-12-07T09:09:00.001-08:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

I am so blessed to be surrounded by incredibly talented Photographers in the Dallas area – two of them in particular are hosting workshops for Photographers that will help take your business to the next level. I am passionate about education in our wedding community, so am super excited that these Photographers are taking the time to share their knowledge and expertise with their industry peers!

First, Christina Quintanilla of ChrysQ Luxe Slipcovers and Ben Quintanilla of Ben Q Photography are hosting a “Winter Workshop” at Third Space Dallas on December 28, 2009. Ben will be reviewing lighting set-up, recommended camera settings, and equipment used. Christina will be staging her ChrysQ Winter 2010 Catalog in a “Winter Vintage” theme – you’ll have the opportunity to take photos at this shoot…and then those images will be included in the catalog and of course you’ll receive the credit. Very cool! You’ll then head over to Forbeyon Studios for a post-production tutorial.

Next, Stacy Reeves of Stacy Reeves Photography is launching a workshop called “Mind Your Business” on January 24, 2010. Stacy is one of the most business savvy Photographers I know, and she is passionate about educating her colleagues to understand the nuts and bolts of what it takes to be a successful business owner. She is going to share her best practices with you on pricing and sales strategies, developing and maintaining client relationships, maximizing your return on investment related to marketing, advertising, and networking…and a whole lot more. Check out her site for more info!

Also, be sure to leave a comment and we’ll donate a can of food to our local food banks in Dallas and Seattle! Here is more info on our Cans for Comments drive - http://sweetpeaeventsllc.blogspot.com/2009/12/cans-for-comments.html

Blue Inspiration Board

2009-12-04T09:31:00.001-08:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

Continuing with our inspiration board series for Pantone 2010 Colors for Spring, we’re featuring “Amparo Blue” this week! We’ve paired it with shades of robins egg blue, and you’ll see from a few of the images below that pops of cherry red, coral, or pink works really well with these blues!

Here are the Photographers (and Event Designer!) who so graciously shared their beautiful images with us for this board. Thanks to all of you!

Also…please consider leaving a comment on the blog today for “Cans for Comments” and we’ll donate a can of food to our local food banks in Seattle and Dallas!

Top Row (from left to right): Bradley Hanson, Erik Clausen of Poser:Image, and Daniela of Bella Signature Design

Bottom Row (from left to right): Ariel Nay Nebeker of Mew, Whitney of Whitney Elizabeth Photographer, and Jared Rey

Row 1: Place cards with keys by Whitney Elizabeth Photography, Bridal Party with Parasols by Bradley Hanson Photography - Event Design by Daniela of Bella Signature Design

Row 2: Cupcake by Bradley Hanson with Event Design by Daniela of Bella Signature Design, Napkins by Jared Rey

Row 3: Bridesmaids shoes by Mew, Bride & Groom by Poser:Image

Row 4/5: Programs by Jared Rey, Bridesmaids dresses and shoes by Poser:Image, Bridesmaid by Jared Rey, and Menu by Whitney Elizabeth Photography

Enjoy!

“Cans for Comments”!

2009-12-02T21:04:00.001-08:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

Just this week I learned about this awesome effort that a few of my Photographer friends here in Dallas are involved with – called “Cans for Comments”. The concept is simple – for any blog comment that readers leave on a blogsite, the blog owner donates a can of food to a local food bank…and, at the same time it’s a great way to receive more comments and increase blog traffic which we all love to do! Amy Karp, Catie Ronquillo, and Anna Routh are all participating in this program and inspired me to also get involved (thank you girls!). I’m excited to drive more readers to our Sweet Pea blog, but more importantly am passionate about giving back and helping to eliminate hunger in Texas and Washington State!

So, here’s the deal – if you leave a comment on our blog anytime between now and December 12, 2009, we’ll donate a can of food on your behalf! They can be comments on new posts or older posts…doesn’t matter! For our Texas office, we’ll be donating our cans to The North Texas Food Bank and for our Seattle office the cans will be provided to Northwest Harvest. We’ve set a personal goal of receiving up to 200 comments during this timeframe, so that equals 200 cans (which is also the maximum amount we’ve set). However many comments we receive, we’ll split between our Dallas and Seattle offices…so in this scenario we would donate 100 cans to The North Texas Food Bank and the other 100 cans to Northwest Harvest.

Let’s spread the spirit of giving this holiday season and help those who are less fortunate! Thanks in advance for leaving your comments! :)

Cake Pops, Dessert Shots, Cake Jars, and French Macaroons from Myla!

2009-12-01T21:30:00.001-08:00

By Kelly Simants

If you’re looking for some fun desserts for your event, check out Myla. Based in Dallas, owner Christina Haywood is the incredibly talented Culinary Engineer who offers personalized cake pops, petit fours, cookies, cake jars, and french macaroons. Uh….YUM!

These cake pops come in tons of flavors…cinnamon sugar, toffee bar, peanut butter and jelly, chocolate oreo, eggnog, and blueberry vanilla – just to name a few!

Also, between now and December 4th, Myla is running a promotion where you’ll receive 20% off your purchase!

This “Cake in a Jar” is perfect to add to any gift basket, to use as a favor or late night snack for your guests, or to give as a hostess gift. The jars come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are layered with cake, frosting, and toppings. They are served ready-to-eat! So fun.

They even sell aprons…how cute are these?!

Be sure to also check out Myla’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/mylaconcepts

You can also follow their blog at: www.myla-concepts.blogspot.com

Enjoy, and let us know which of the Myla products you end up taste-testing! :)

Yellow Wedding Details and Inspiration Board

2009-11-23T21:29:00.001-08:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

We’ve been creating inspiration boards based on Pantone 2010 Colors for Spring…next up is “Aurora Yellow”. To help me pull this board together, I enlisted a few of my amazingly talented Wedding Photographer colleagues. All of the yellow detail shots in this inspiration board below are from real weddings these Photographers have captured. Thank you so much to Cesar, Tanya, Whitney, and Ariel for providing me with these beautiful images! You all rock! :)

From left to right (above): Cesar and Tanya of Perez Photography, Whitney of Whitney Elizabeth Photographer, and Ariel Nay Nebeker of Mew

Row 1: Tablescape and boutonniere photos by Perez Photography, flower clutch photo by Whitney Elizabeth Photography

Row 2: Aisle petal photo by Whitney Elizabeth, shoes and program photos by Perez Photography

Row 3: Place card photo by Whitney Elizabeth, save-the-date and program photos by Mew

Row 4: Cake photo by Whitney Elizabeth, Bride with bridesmaids photo by Perez Photography

Enjoy!

Decor Ideas for Your Thanksgiving Table

2009-11-20T08:14:00.001-08:00

By Kelly Simants

I can hardly believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner! If you’re like me and the holidays snuck up on you, you may still be looking for that perfect decor to entertain your guests. Here are some fun ideas for decorating your table, as well as some yummy recipes for cocktails and desserts…Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle, anyone?

Love this amber + gold tablescape idea from HGTV – they’ve combined natural elements with some sparkles…stunning!

Some of the natural elements they incorporated into the tablescape…

Adorable place card ideas from Apron Strings Aflutter

This cocktail is called “Laughter in the Rain” – yuummm! I thought it was appropriate for this grey, rainy day in Dallas. :) Thank you Martha Stewart! Here is the recipe.

Last but not least, Paula Deen’s “Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle”…I may just have to try making this over the weekend!

Enjoy!

Vendor Spotlight – Amy Karp Photography

2009-11-17T21:46:00.000-08:00

By Kelly Simants

Amy Karp is one of those people who genuinely lights up a room…with her bright smile and positive energy, her joie de vivre is contagious! One thing I love most about Amy is her willingness to help others. She is constantly volunteering to lend a hand, especially with her incredible photography skills. A few weeks ago on Twitter, I announced plans to host an informal networking group I kicked-off here in Dallas called “Thursday Therapy”. It’s a place for all Wedding Pros to get together for happy hour to talk shop, meet new vendors, and come together as a wedding community and collaborate. Amy immediately offered to bring her camera and capture some images for our group so we could blog about it and spread the word so other vendors can find out about it. This month we met at the new Nylo Hotel in Las Colinas and it was so much fun! Lauren Fouke is their wonderful Catering Manager who hosted the space for us. If you’re looking for a hip and swanky venue, definitely check out Nylo! Following are Amy’s images she graciously took for us (be sure to scroll down after the Thursday Therapy images to read more about Amy and see a few of her favorite pics)!

Top left: Stacy Reeves of Stacy Reeves Photography and Jason Gulledge/Top Right: Catie Ronquillo of Catie Ronquillo Photography and Deanie Yuska of Deanie Michele Events/Middle: Deanie Tuska, Kelly Simants of Sweet Pea Events and Celina Gomez of Captivating Simplicity/Bottom Row: Stacy Reeves, Kelly Simants, and Lottie of Couture Events by Lottie (Stacy just gave Lottie one of her ridiculously cute and clever handkerchief business cards and Amy captured Lottie’s reaction perfectly!) :)

Top Row: Natalia Zamarippa of Natalia Z Photography and Sheila Hannus of Sheila Hannus Photography Bottom Row: Jason Gulledge and Jared Rey of Jared Rey Photography

The section of the Nylo’s lounge we were in was called “The Library” – highly recommend it for a fun group setting! They had tons of games including classics like Connect 4, Rubik’s Cube, and even a sweet pool table.

Ryan Li Jeff Langhammer of DFW Wedding Videographer and Celina Gomez

The yummy cheese station that Nylo so generously provided for us…yuuumm!

Looking forward to seeing you all next month! Date and place TBD but will send out the invite soon! Please let me know if you’re a DFW Wedding Pro and would like to be added to the distribution list for future Thursday Therapy get togethers!

Now, let’s turn back to Amy and learn a little bit more about her from a few questions I asked her…

1. How did you get started in the Photography business, and specifically with weddings?

I have been shooting for the past 12 years (eek!), but leading up to my own wedding in 2007 I started specializing in weddings. I often tell other photographers I shoot weddings and they applaud because they know how different it is from standard portraits or other forms for photography.

2. What is your typical day like as a Wedding Photographer on the day of the wedding, and also on a non-wedding day?

My wedding day rituals start way before the actual wedding day. On a typical wedding weekend it is all about checklists! They are crucial for me in order to make sure things run smoothly…batteries charged, cards formatted, bags packed with all the gear, copies of contracts, and venue locations just name a few things on my checklists. After shooting a few weddings in the beginning, I started to work my system and I still find things to tweak after each wedding.

Non-wedding days are filled with balancing being a Stay-at-Home Mom, Wife, and Photographer. I love being social so any chance I have to network with other people in the industry, I am all over it!

3. What would you say makes your style or personality unique from other Photographers?

I have a very wacky personality. I tend to bring that out in my clients. I can also bring the heat when saucy shots are needed. I love it when brides come to me and say they saw my images and saw something REAL in them. Being real is who I am. I am ME from the moment a bride meets me until I deliver her images.

4. Favorite tips or advice for the bride and grooms to be?

Choose your photographer wisely. Choose someone that best represents your style and desired images.

Have someone at your wedding to help you plan and keep things running smoothly (day-of planning is AVAILABLE!). When you don’t have someone to help with that, we have to do it. Let us focus on what we do best; getting you FABULOUS IMAGES!

Book your photographer well in advance. I am about to shoot a wedding for a bride that booked me a year and a half ago! There are only so many Saturdays in a year and they fill up quickly.

6. When you aren’t working, what are some of your favorite things to do?

I love spending time with my guys; Sammy, my 18month old and my husband, Jon. I have a busy workload, so when things slow down for a minute to take life in, I enjoy being with them. Jon will also tell you I have a love affair with my iPhone. It’s my portal to social networking!

7. What are some of your favorite venues in the DFW area, and why?

Favorite, favorite, favorite is the Dallas Museum of Art! I shot a wedding there and fell in love. I have been a member there for several years, but this year was the first time I was able to work a wedding there.

I love Party Off the Grid. It is a historic Dallas Power and Light Substation. It used to power the city streetlights. I was able to shoot there for the first time a few weeks ago and it is currently my favorite! It has rooftop access and overlooks the Dallas skyline. The different levels (3) allow you to get really creative with angles.

The McKinney Cotton Mill is also a fun favorite. I just love all the natural light streaming through the old rustic windows. They restored the building but left several wonderful details as they were.

Do you see a trend here? I love history!!

Thanks so much, Amy! Loved learning more about you! Now here are some of Amy’s favorites from her portfolio.

Thanks again, Amy! Cheers to your continued success! :)

Violet and Grey Inspiration Board

2009-11-16T19:40:00.001-08:00

By Kelly Simants

A few weeks ago we showcased the Pantone colors for Spring 2010 and featured a Pink Champagne and Gold inspiration board…now this week we’re using another one of the Pantone colors for Spring – Violet - which is going to be a huge hit, and we’re pairing it with grey. I have to say, that after thumbing through all sorts of images and websites to find my favorite images for this board, I think I might choose this color palette for my own wedding if I were to do it over! :) There were so many cool violet and grey options for jewelry, bridesmaids dresses, shoes, linens, you name it! I just LOVE this color combo. Enjoy!

Row 1: Bridal gown by Kenneth Pool (via Get Married’s website), Claire du Lune garter from Peterene Design, Shoes are “Shoe-Nami Metairie” – image by Studio Tran Photography

Row 2: Silk slim line clutch from Via Bella, “Spirited Away” bridesmaids dress by Anthropologie, The Carrie Necklace in Stormy by Erin Keys

Row 3: Faceted glass candle holder from West Elm, “Summer Eve” invitations by Michelle Loretta of mmm…paper, Men’s Necktie in Duchess Satin by Dessy

Row 4: Flower topped fantasy cake from Martha Stewart Weddings, Glassware by Puccini – available at Z Gallerie, Silverberry guest book by Uber Art

“Sweet Success” Workshop for Aspiring Wedding Planners

2009-11-13T14:43:00.001-08:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

We couldn’t be more thrilled to announce that our next “Sweet Success” workshop in Dallas for aspiring Wedding Planners will be held on Saturday, January 23, 2010. Please visit www.sweetsuccess.eventbrite.com for more information and to register!

Here are some images and testimonials from a few of our fabulous attendees at the last workshop:

Hope to see you there!

Carrie & John’s “Rock Hollywood” Wedding

2009-11-06T12:35:00.000-08:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

I met Carrie and John at The All Good Cafe (their reception venue) for our consultation, and we immediately hit it off! I felt like I had known both of them for years – they are two of the warmest, welcoming people I’ve worked with. And, they have such a fun, truly unique sense of style that they wanted reflected in their wedding – so they wanted everyone to walk in and say “Oh wow, that is SO Carrie and John”!

With that said, their overall design was based on an “Old School Rock n’ Roll and Old Hollywood Glam” concept. LOVED the challenge of creating a design with them that was Tiffany-esque and traditional, yet edgy at the same time! Carrie and John’s colors were tiffany blue and cherry red, mixed with touches of black damask and leopard print. Fun! Carrie had done a great job of securing most of her vendors by the time we met, so just needed a bit of help pulling the design elements together and making sure everything ran smoothly on the day-of her wedding…so they hired Sweet Pea Events to help with Month-Of Wedding Coordination.

Here are a few shots from their ceremony in The Sunken Gardens at The Dallas Arboretum – gorgeous venue! Thanks to Paul Dyer from Vim Studio for providing all of these incredible photos from the day!

Mami from Botanical Art Design created the most gorgeous bouquets and boutonnieres! I especially love the hand-made brooches she added to the bridesmaids bouquets!

Carrie and John both are passionate about music (and in fact are talented musicians!) so "The Thin White Dukes" band pictured below was an extremely important priority for them to set the tone for the party. The All Good Cafe was a perfect venue for them, as it has both a vintage flair with red diner booths and eclectic with music posters and all sorts of goodies scattered around the room.

Carrie bought fake lips for the wedding party at the end of the night just to be goofy and have fun…and her girls did say “Oh, that is SO Carrie!” :)

The party wasn’t over when the reception ended at The All Good…Carrie & John changed into their after-party attire (love Carrie’s go-go dress and John’s retro shirt!) and left in a 1961 Cadillac from Dallas Dream Cars to head to The Mardi Gras for more music and dancing – so fun!

Congrats Carrie and John! It was a blast working with you!

Fabulous Vendors Carrie & John Selected:

Ceremony - The Dallas Arboretum
Reception – The All Good Cafe
Photographer – Vim Studio
Flowers – Botanical Art Design
Cake – Tart Bakery Dallas
Band – The King Bucks
Transportation – Dallas Dream Cars
Lighting – Switch Lighting
Gown – Maggie Sottero
Linens and Rentals – Ducky Bob’s
Getting Ready Hotel – The Belmont Hotel
Wedding Planning – Sweet Pea Events

Get Gorgeous Goods, While Giving Back!

2009-10-26T13:00:00.000-07:00

Posted by Holly-Kate Foss

Getting married in 2010 and wanting to purchase items for your wedding AND give to a great cause? This Thursday evening you will have the opportunity to bid on these amazing hand-crafted Wedding Bands with DIAMONDS during our LIVE auction!

What is Get Hitched, Give Hope - you ask? It is essentially THIS: A big party for brides and grooms where they can get good deals on fantastic products & services for their wedding by donating to a great cause. The money raised at the cocktail party-slash-auction is used to grant final wishes for Stage 4 breast cancer patients. Can you think of a better way to spend your Thursday night? I can't!

We have LOTS of great items this year, covering everything from couture gowns to flowers to invites to coordination to photography... but one of our favorites... His and Hers Wedding Bands by local Queen Anne jeweler T. Anthony Sholdt!!

His: Tungsten wedding band with a palladium inlay.

Hers: Diamond eternity band set in palladium with 43 (count 'em! 43!) round brilliant cut diamonds (.22 carat total weight)

For more information about the event and to purchase your tickets, please visit http://www.gethitchedgivehope.com/

Learn more about T. Anthony Sholdt at http://www.tanthonysholdt.com/

See you on Thursday!

Sweet Pea Events Featured on Green Wedding Shoes!

2009-10-25T22:31:00.000-07:00

Posted by Holly-Kate Foss

One of our Weddings was featured on Green Wedding Shoes - how exciting!

It was such a pleasure working with Emily and Casey during their wedding planning. Here is a quick sneak peak at their wedding. More pictures and details to come~

Photography by Sean Flanigan

Get Hitched, Give Hope - October 29, 2009

2009-10-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

Posted by Holly-Kate Foss

Do you have your tickets yet?

In less than two weeks, you can attend one of the greatest events of the year! Get Hitched, Give Hope!

Get Hitched, Give Hope is throwing a big, glamorous party for brides & grooms planning their 2010 or later wedding. In one night, they can shop for all their wedding necessities; score photography packages, invitations design, bridal accessories, wedding coordination services and more - all while feeling great, knowing that the money they spend is going to a fabulous cause. Last year, we raised $30,000 in a SINGLE NIGHT to grant wishes to terminally ill breast cancer patients. This year we're hoping to raise $50,000.

What: Cocktails, appetizers, desserts, insanely stocked swag bags, silent & live auction, raffles, amazing shopping for brides & grooms, fundraising for Brides Against Breast Cancer/The MakingMemories Foundation

When: Thursday, October 29th 2009 5:30-9:00 PM

Where: The Dome Room at the Arctic Club Hotel, 700 3rd Avenue at Cherry, downtown Seattle

Who: Seattle's top wedding vendors who are donating their goods for a cause! Here is a short list of some of the vendors that are providing services/items at the event:

t. Anthony Sholdt - couture bridal jewelry

The Radical Cupcake

Willow and Bloom

Butler Valet

Molly Moon

Sweet Pea Events

and many more more!

How: www.gethitchedgivehope.com for tickets, the goods, & more!!

De-Stress During Your Wedding Planning

2009-10-19T22:27:00.001-07:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

We know that the typical bride spends anywhere from 200-300 hours planning her wedding…chances are, that means you find yourself staying up late night after night, pouring over your new bridal magazines and spending hours online researching the latest trends. Or, maybe you are looking at all of your unchecked to-do’s on your wedding checklist and are feeling a bit of stress! Well, of course besides bringing a Wedding Planner on board to help you ease that stress, I wanted to share three products with you that will help give you instant relief and help you to de-stress! I’ve personally used each of these products and think they work amazingly well.

This first one is from Origins and is called Peace of Mind – it’s on the spot relief for any tension or pressure you’re feeling on your neck, temples, etc. It works wonders on headaches, as you’ll feel the pain and pressure begin to melt away immediately as the cooling sensation kicks in. Oh, and it has a wonderfully relaxing mint scent that reminds me of being at the spa!

This next product is also from Origins and is called “No Puffery” – it’s a cooling mask for puffy eyes or dark circles, and works like a charm!

Finally, this under eye concealer helps to cover up any remaining dark circles and to brighten up your eyes! It’s called Boots No7 Radiant Glow Concealer and is available at Target.

Pink Champagne and Gold Color Palette

2009-10-12T15:01:00.001-07:00

By Kelly Simants

Last week we introduced the Spring 2010 line of colors that Pantone has indicated will set the trends in fashion. I was instantly drawn to the “Pink Champagne” color swatch, and decided that I would pair it with gold and create an inspiration board with an antique flair to share with you. This color combination is so classy and romantic and would make the perfect pallette for your spring wedding or rehearsal dinner. Enjoy!

Row 1: Tablescape by Martha Stewart, Vera Wang bridesmaids dress in Antique Gold, and Cake by Martha Stewart

Row 2: Duchess stone necklace from J. Crew, antique victorian shell cameo, strawberry macaroons from Delicious Magazine, “Tulip” ring by Shaesby

Row 3: Place Setting by Totally Tabletops, paper accessories from Ceci New York

Row 4: White canopy umbrella from Bella Umbrella, Martina gown by Pronovias, pink champagne flutes from Etsy

Hot Bridal Fashion Trends for Spring 2010

2009-10-05T22:55:00.001-07:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

Now that fall is here, that means we’re already looking ahead to bridal fashion trends for spring! If you are planning a spring wedding, now’s the time to be ordering your bridesmaids dresses if you haven’t already! This coming spring is going to be full or color, but you’ll also see some beautiful neutrals – the latest Pantone Report for Spring 2010 was released in September during Fashion Week in New York. Pantone basically helps to set the stage for fashion and design colors and trends. The spring 2010 palette below includes colors like Turquoise, Fusion Coral, Violet, Aurora, Tuscany, Pink Champagne and Tomato Puree (I love the names)! Here is the full palette for spring 2010:

I decided to take a few of the spring 2010 colors and find some fabulous goods that would be perfect for a wedding, rehearsal dinner, or engagement party! Over the next few weeks, I’m going to be using these Pantone colors as inspiration and will provide event design and decor ideas…so stay tuned for more! In the meantime, here are the fun finds I wanted to share with you!

Do You Have a Business Plan?

2009-09-21T21:59:00.001-07:00

Calling all wedding industry vendors…or those wanting to pursue a career in the wedding business! I have some exciting news!! If you haven’t heard already, I have teamed up with Michelle Loretta of mmm…paper to form a company called Sage Wedding Pros. Essentially, Sage Wedding Pros is a resource for wedding professionals who want to have smarter businesses. We’ll guide you through the maze of business planning, marketing, forecasting, accounting, and so on… so that your business may boom.

With that said, we are so excited to announce that we are launching a workshop on how to write a business plan, called “The Simple Plan”. This is something that is near and dear to my heart, as I truly believe in the power of a plan – and executing that plan. My business plan has helped me to take my company from a hobby to a full-time career, and has helped me to grow Sweet Pea Events in both Seattle and Dallas markets. It’s not always easy to write a business plan and it can be time consuming and overwhelming. We have found that having others to guide and encourage you through the process makes a WORLD of difference. Over many cups of coffee, Michelle and I held each other accountable to writing our own business plans and would get together on a regular basis for business planning sessions. It made the entire process so much more enjoyable, and we really were so much more productive than we would have been if we tried to tackle this on our own. All that to say, we are excited to bring our experience in the wedding industry and business planning to you...in a “No-Sweat, No-Fuss, Piece of Cake, Easy-Peasy Approach”! Also, we are thrilled to have Junebug Weddings and Aspire to Plan join us as special guest presenters, and Hotel Andra and Tom Douglas as sponsors!

If you’d like to try and win a FREE ticket to the workshop and a TWO night stay at Hotel Andra, then submit your Soul Story to us through this contest!

Here are details about The Simple Plan as well as info about how to sign-up:

When: November 6-7, 2009 ~ 9:00am-4:30pm each day

Where: Hotel Andra ~ 2000 Fourth Avenue, Seattle WA 98121

How: Purchase tickets HERE

Why: Because…

• You have never written your business plan but know you should.
• You have a business plan that is covered in cobwebs (or maybe just a little out of date).
• You want an easy approach to writing your business plan.
• You find “strength in numbers” and value business collaboration.
• You are gearing up for a successful 2010 and want to have a PLAN!

What: Some of the things you will do…

• Define or refine your mission statement, company objectives, and goals for your business.
• Create a marketing plan, operational plan, and financial plan for your business.
• Expand your business mind and broaden your professional horizon.
• Get your questions answered by wedding pros who have years of experience in the industry.
• Network with other business savvy wedding professionals at a special Friday event.

Cost:

Early Bird: $299 through September 30
Regular Pricing: $349 after October 1

Cost includes all workshop materials including The Simple Plan ™ workbook. Tom Douglas Catering will provide breakfast and lunch on both days.

Hotel Accommodations:

Hotel Andra ~ 2000 Fourth Avenue, Seattle WA 98121

Rates good through October 14:
- $142 Ändra Rooms with 2 Queen Beds or 1 Queen Bed
- $151 Ändra Suites with 2 Queen Beds, 1 Queen Bed or 1 King Bed
- $168 Ändra Lux Suites with 1 King Bed

When making a reservation please use “Sage Wedding Pros” as a referral
Reservations can be made by phoning 877.448.8600 or 206.448.8600

Speakers

Sponsored by

Best of Western Washington Voting Begins!

2009-08-31T12:10:00.001-07:00

Sweet Pea Events has been nominated again for the Best of Western Washington in the Wedding Planning category! We made it to the Top 5 last year and would love to make it again this year. Thanks in advance for your votes, and your support!

Please click here to vote!

"Sweet Success" Workshop - The Recap

2009-08-25T21:09:00.001-07:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

This past weekend I had the privilege of hosting our "Sweet Success" workshop for aspiring Wedding Planners at the Cascades Events Center in The Colony, TX. We had a fabulous group of women who are highly passionate about the wedding industry, and they were each excited to learn more about developing their businesses. The day was filled with tons of great discussion and learnings! I'm truly excited to watch their businesses grow - I don't have a doubt in my mind that they are each going to be a huge success! :) Look for our next workshop to be held later this fall.

Special thanks to:

Catie Ronquillo for providing these images from the workshop
Carrie Foiles of The Event Messenger for the beautiful invitation suite
Kris Buchanan at the Cascades Events Center for generously hosting the venue

Also, be sure to check out the following blog posts for additional pics and first-hand info from participants about the day!

Pictured from left to right are: Myself (Kelly Simants), Evie Howard, Stephanie Midkiff (Kelly and Lime), Michelle Holland (Fret Knot Events), and Stephanie Torres (Stephanie Michele Events).

Delicious Blueberry Lavender Mojito Recipe!

2009-07-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

Creative Commons License

Posted by Kelly Simants

I thought I'd kick off the weekend by sharing one of my favorite summer drinks...Blueberry Lavender Mojitos! This is such a delicious, light and refreshing drink, and pretty simple to make. The recipe is from a wonderful book, "Market-Fresh Mixology: Cocktails for Every Season" which can be purchased at Crate & Barrel. I brought these drinks to a girls night out at the spa and they were a hit! If you are wondering where to find the lavender blossoms you'll need to make the syrup, specialty grocery stores like Whole Foods or Market Street typically carry them in the bulk goods section.

Enjoy, and Happy Weekend! :)

Blue Lavender Mojito

10 to 15 mint leaves
10 to 15 blueberries
1 ounce lavender syrup*
Juice of 1/2 of a pressed lime
1 1/2 ounces white rum Club soda

1. In a tall glass, muddle mint leaves, simple syrup or lavender syrup, lime juice, blueberries, and rum.
2. Muddle just enough to combine flavors, being careful not to over-muddle. Fill glass with crushed ice. Top with club soda and stir.
3. Garnish with 3 blueberries on a pick. Serve with a straw.

*Lavender Simple Syrup

2 cups water
2 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons dried lavender blossoms

1. Bring ingredients to a boil in saucepan, stirring so that the sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and continue stirring until all the sugar has dissolved.
2. Remove from heat and let steep for 30 minutes. Remove lavender blossoms and allow syrup to cool. Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated.