Sweet Pea Events - Seattle and Dallas

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 King Bucks band 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.

PAPERPALOOZA!

2009-07-08T11:25:00.000-07:00

Posted by Holly-Kate Foss

Hey Creative Brides! A must attend event this coming weekend - you do not want to miss this!

What happens when four stationery designers obsessed with all things paper join forces? A can't miss PAPERPALOOZA! Brown Sugar Design, Ephemera Press, Real Card Studio and mmm...paper are banding together next Saturday. Their studios are overflowing with luxury envelopes, rolls and rolls of ribbon, fine papers from India, Italy, and Japan - and so much more!

Plus, that is a lot of talent in one room! If you are looking for help with creating your perfect invitation, wedding programs or just about anything paper, you should stop by and meet this group of crafty individuals!

This is a great opportunity for all of the DIY brides, scrapbookers, crafters, and paper lovers to get some fantastic goods at prices far below retail!

Saturday, July 11, 2009 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Real Card Studio 117 First Avenue North, Seattle (enter from the alley between 1st Avenue and Queen Anne Avenue North)

By the way...The first 20 people to email sale@mmmpaper.com will receive an invitation to their EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW HOUR from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM! Get first pick of all the goodies! Coffee and yummy treats will be served.

Stylish Organizational Products!

2009-07-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

I am in the midst of organizing my new office and have been running across some fabulous finds to help you stay organized...all in a fashionable way! Forget your basic yellow post-it notes and white boards, and check out one of my all time favorite websites for organizational style - See Jane Work. Here are several fabulous products I just ran across that I just had to share!

Love this Rococo chalkboard - it's actually a wall decal, so can be easily removed and is completely reusable. This would not only make for a perfect addition to any office, but would also be a great way to display a menu for a bridal shower luncheon, rehearsal dinner, etc.

Being a Wedding & Event Planner, I'm a big fan of to-do lists. This 8 Days-A-Week pad is such a great idea for people like me who always are brainstorming ideas, but not always able to tackle them instantaneously. This notepad gives you a way to table those ideas, and create to-do's for the 8th day of the week titled "Someday". :)

Instead of having cluttered post-it notes all over the place, consider this Ceramic Memo Board!

If you have stacks of magazines like I do...Martha Stewart Weddings, In Style Weddings, D Weddings, Seattle Bride, etc. then you will love these stylish magazine holders!

I use file folders for everything I do, and can't imagine life or my business without them! Here are some super cute vintage inspired, colorful file folders that are a refreshing change from the blah manila folders you might be used to!

This is one of my all time favorite things I've purchased from See Jane Work - the Bella Leather Portfolio. It's a perfect portfolio for you to take notes while you're meeting with vendors, jot down your wedding ideas, etc. I have it in the lime green color and love it!

Happy Organizing!

Wedding Planner Workshop in Dallas!

2009-07-01T10:23:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce that the Dallas Office of Sweet Pea Events is offering another intensive one-day workshop called “Sweet Success!” - how to build a successful wedding planning business. This workshop is intended for people interested in learning more about the wedding industry and inside scoop on becoming a Wedding Planner!

Here are high-level details about the workshop:

When: Saturday, August 22, 2009 – 9:00 am – 4:30 pm

Where: The Cascades Events Center at The Colony (near Plano/Frisco off of Highway 121) is generously hosting the space for this workshop. This venue is located at 5909 Stone Creek Drive, The Colony, TX 75056. For more information about this beautiful new venue, please visit http://www.cascadeseventscenter.com/

Why: There are some excellent wedding planner certification programs and networking groups available. However, we have found that there are very few options for people interested in simply attending a workshop to learn more about the wedding industry and what is involved with becoming a Wedding Planner. Our goal is to offer an affordable solution where you can be inspired, soak in a ton of valuable information and great take-aways which will help you to determine if wedding planning is the right career path for you. With my 8 years of experience as a Planner, I’m excited to share my history with aspiring Wedding Planners and help give you a jump start into this wonderful industry! I also have a passion for developing others, as I was in Human Resources prior to the wedding industry and thoroughly enjoy providing training and development opportunities!

What: We will cover a variety of topics which will include: Wedding Industry Statistics and Trends, Basics of Owning a Wedding Planning Business, Day in the Life of a Wedding Planner, Marketing Tips, Establishing Vendor Relationships, Pricing & Sales, Next Steps You Can Pursue, and More!

How: To reserve your space in this workshop, please contact Kelly at kelly@sweetpeaevents.net to request a registration form no later than Friday, August 14, 2009. The total cost of this workshop is $200 which will include lunch. If you bring a friend, the cost for each of you will only be $150! Registration will close on Friday, August 14, 2009, so please ensure your registration form and payment are submitted by then. Note: Class size will be limited to 15 participants and is based on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Looking forward to your participation and meeting you in person!

Dallas Vendor Spotlight - Soulbox Productions

2009-05-22T07:27:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite aspects of being a Wedding Planner is that I'm able to meet with some incredibly talented and fun vendors. I recently had the chance to meet up with Dave and Corbin Baxter of Soulbox Productions (pictured above), a husband and wife videography team in Dallas. I love it when I meet with people and have an instant connection - that's how I felt with Dave and Corbin! We sat and talked about the wedding industry, our businesses, and got to know each other and before we knew it 2 hours had passed! They are both super down to earth, and are extremely passionate about what they do. Not to mention, their film making capabilities are unparalleled - they are one of the few to offer Super 8 film to create that unique vintage look. I had an opportunity to ask them the following questions about their business so you could get to know them a little bit better - enjoy!

1. How did you get started in the Videography business, and specifically with weddings?
Corbin and I started capturing weddings after filming and producing our first feature length film, Beyond Doors, in 2001. We quit our “corporate jobs” and started filming weddings fulltime in 2004.

2. What is your typical day like as a Wedding Videographer on the day of the wedding, and also on a non-wedding day?
On a wedding day, our coverage is typically 8 hours, which includes 2 hours of pre ceremony, ceremony and up to a 4 hour reception. We film every wedding, whether it’s a Super 8mm Full Film or Digital Coverage with two cinematographers, which allows Corbin and me to work together the majority of the time. We are extremely lucky that the majority of our clients have Professional Wedding Planners, which makes our day so much easier. A non-wedding day we’re in front of our computers editing and replying to inquiries. Corbin and I pride ourselves on the quality of our wedding films (the real magic happens in post production, which is anywhere from 40-60 hours) and our customer service. We reply to all our inquiries within 24 hours.

3. What would you say makes your style or personality unique from other Videographers?
We offer Super 8mm as a highlight or a Full Film wedding. Capturing a wedding in super 8 is incredibly freeing creatively, and it also provides our brides with a completely unique Wedding Film. We also provide Bonus Features (add-ons) that know one else offers. The most popular is the Honeymoon Highlight. We provide the bride and groom with a one-time use, portable video camera to take on their honeymoon. We then create a Honeymoon Highlight by also incorporating their photos, which allows our brides and grooms to have their honeymoon conveniently on their Wedding DVD.

4. What are some of your favorite video highlights from your portfolio?

One of our favorites is our most recent Highlight from Christina and Clay’s Full Film Wedding:
http://www.soulboxproductions.com/blog/?page_id=41

5. Favorite tips or advice for the bride and grooms to be?
Hire a Professional Wedding Planner! Corbin and I got married 10 years ago, we were the first of our friends to get married and I so wish we would’ve had a wedding planner. Not only do they make everything easier on you and your friends and family (and vendors) day of, but you learn etiquette, budget planning and they are a wonderful resource for vendors beforehand.
And then hire a Professional Wedding Filmmaker. It’s astonishing to us that over 60% of weddings don’t have professional filmmakers as a part of the day. Your friend or Uncle Bob will not provide you near the quality of work: they won’t have a wireless mic to capture your vows, the knowledge of what to capture or how to work with your vendors. We have actually had clients that didn’t book us, contact us upset that they didn’t have a way to remember their wedding. Along with photography, your wedding film is the only way to relive your day.
We also tell our potential clients, if everything else is equal, always select the vendors that you connect with the best.

6. When you aren’t working, what are some of your favorite things to do?
Watch movies, listen to music, travel and work on our side-projects. We are currently developing board games. We have two working prototypes:
I Quit! – Beat Corporate America At It’s Own Game
I Know Why… The craziest, wackiest card game ever (which is a children’s card game that allows them to use their imagination while learning fun facts)
We are also developing a wedding/honeymoon card game, which is currently titled It Takes 2!

7. What are some of your favorite venues in the DFW area, and why?
* Royal Lane Baptist Church. They allow one of our cameras to be in the front without being seen. (Being unobtrusive is one of our main goals of the day.)
* United Methodist of Dallas is an extremely ornate and beautiful church.
* Arlington Hall is a wonderful location for both a ceremony and reception (we find that same location weddings make it so much easier for everyone).
* Hickory Street Annex is a recently new location for both ceremony and reception that has an amazing urban chic feel.

We also love destination weddings, which allow us to be inspired by locations we’ve never experienced before. Destination weddings also fit perfectly with the Super 8mm Full Film Coverage!

Thanks so much Dave and Corbin - looking forward to working with you!!

Elegant Travel Themed Wedding

2009-04-26T18:24:00.000-07:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

Linnea and Paul are one of the most well traveled and cultured couples I have worked with…they have been to India, Belgium, Monaco, Prague, Australia, Japan, Switzerland, and the list goes on and on! Not only have they traveled to many, many countries together, but they have also lived in China. In fact, much of their wedding planning was done long-distance while they were in Hong Kong, so we worked together remotely to plan their big day. So, it was only natural that they wanted to incorporate their love for travel into their wedding elements! The Arctic Club was the perfect venue for them since it is a historical site which was established by adventurers who found their fortune in the Gold Rush…so the hotel’s décor even incorporates design elements like maps, frescos, and the stunning stained glass ceiling in the Dome Room which is reminiscent of the Northern Lights.

You’ll notice in these fabulous images from Azzura Photography how we incorporated travel elements into the reception décor. Escort cards were “passports” and table names were countries the couple had traveled to together – all designed by the super talented Whitney and Jonathan from Brown Sugar Design. Linnea really wanted her guests to feel like they could mingle and not be stuck at their tables all evening, so she also wanted guests to use the passports and go table to table and get their passport stamped. This was such a fun idea and fostered an environment of great conversation between guests and gave them a fun activity to do at the reception! Also, instead of the traditional guest book, Brown Sugar Design also created postcards for guests to write their well wishes to Linnea and Paul!

The stunning flowers were designed by Anne Bradfield of Floressence and delicious cake by Jen Nurse of Jen’s Desserts. The cake was chocolate chiffon with white, milk, & dark chocolate mousse fillings. Jen also made vanilla custard profiteroles drizzled with chocolate sauce…so beautiful, and just melted in your mouth. To die for! Ken from Azzura Photography was also incredible to work with - super upbeat personality, yet laid-back at the same time...perfect combination for a wedding professional. Not to mention, he and his wife Tania provide top-notch customer service and beautiful images - thanks Ken and Tania, for sharing these images with us!

The awesome Paperboys band!

Congratulations Linnea and Paul! It was a joy to work with you both, and we wish you all the best!

Fabulous Vendors Linnea and Paul Selected:

Ceremony Venue: Holy Names Academy
Reception Venue: The Arctic Club Hotel
Catering: The Arctic Club Hotel
Band: The Paperboys
DJ: Bamboo Beats
Gown: Luly Yang
Invitations: Brown Sugar Design
Florist: Floressence
Hair & Makeup: Salon Maison
Nails: Julep
Photographer: Azzura Photography
Transportation: British Motorcoach
Cake & Profiteroles: Jen’s Desserts
Specialty Linens: Choice Linens
Child Care: On Call Nanny

Adorable Bridesmaids Gift Idea!

2009-04-20T17:52:00.000-07:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

Are you looking for a unique bridesmaids gift idea, or a super fun clutch for you to use on your wedding day? Check out an incredible store called Cahoots Handbags, which offers custom, hand-sewn, and virtually one-of-a-kind handbags. These bags are all made from vintage fabrics and unique buttons, in tiny quantities, so it's rare you'll see more than 3 or 4 of the same edition. If you have a certain color or design in mind, they can create your very own handbag edition! This is especially great if you would like the handbags or clutches to compliment your bridesmaids dresses, your wedding gown, etc. You could also give each of your bridesmaids a totally different style or color that reflects their own personality! The other amazing thing about these bags is they are all made with love by only two people, store owners Marsha and Paige.

Here are a few examples of their exquisite handbags:

I love these bridal clutches!

And, last but not least...my sweet bride from this past weekend generously gave me this beautiful handbag...notice it's pink and green to represent our Sweet Pea colors! :) Thanks Carrie! I LOVE it! We will be posting pictures from her gorgeous wedding shortly!

If you are in Texas, you can visit the Cahoots Handbags boutique Monday-Saturday from 10 am - 5 pm. They are located at 205 South Commerce, just off the courthouse square in Gainsville, TX. If you reside outside of Texas, you can purchase the bags online! Enjoy!

Seattle Cityscape Wedding on Alki!

2009-04-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

Jason and Nicole celebrated a beautiful outdoor wedding overlooking the Seattle skyline at Hamilton Viewpoint Park in Alki last summer. The view from the reception at Salty's on Alki was equally as stunning, and made for the perfect venue to showcase the beauty of Seattle for their many out-of-town guests.

They had so much fun on their wedding day, which you can see from these images as they were even dancing in the streets at Pike Place Market! :) These two really live life to the fullest, are super adventurous, and just very genuine people. We had a great time working together, and I was privileged to help them pull all of their beautiful details together for their big day! Congrats Jason and Nicole!!

The talented and award winning photographer, Jim Garner, captured the photos from this romantic day and he is a blast to work with! The couple selected many other amazing vendors for their wedding including beautiful flowers from Willow & Bloom, exceptional makeup and hair services from Erin Skipley, and the super fun “Jerry and the Philbillies” band who kept the party going all night long! For a complete list of all of vendors , see the end of this blog posting.

The bride & groom enjoyed a tropical honeymoon in the Cook Islands to the small island of Aitutaki…after seeing their gorgeous pictures that is definitely on my list of places I MUST travel to soon! Enjoy!

Fabulous Vendors Jason and Nicole Selected:

Ceremony Venue: Hamilton Viewpoint Park
Reception Venue and Catering: Salty’s on Alki
Band: Jerry & The Philbillys
Cake: Sugar Cake Studio
Florist: Willow & Bloom
Officiant: Reverend Ray
Hair: Erin Skipley of Bellatrix Studio
Photographer: J. Garner Photography
Bridal Gown: A Princess Bride
Transportation: Crystal Coach
Rentals: AA Party
Ceremony Trio: Seattle String Ensemble
Getting Ready Hotel & Bridal Suite: Inn at the Market
Honeymoon: Cook Islands

Custom Invitations, Announcements, & Stationery - The Event Messenger

2009-04-06T19:58:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for custom invitations, thank you notes, escort cards, or anything paper related and are in the Dallas-Fort Worth area then you must meet Carrie Foiles of The Event Messenger! She creates one-of-a-kind, intricate invitations for weddings, baby showers, holiday parties, you name it - really anything that requires a celebration! Her work is simply gorgeous, and she is a ball of energy which is just contagious! Carrie is so much fun to work with and her clients are never disappointed.

Carrie is also passionate about being green and incorporating environmentally sound practices into her business model. The paper she sources has at least 10% post-consumer waste and most of the paper is more than 30% post-consumer waste. She also uses electronic invoicing, and her studio is a home based business with electricity powered by a green electric company. Check out her green resources page on her website for additional info!

Carrie is a huge supporter of women in business, and is active in the Junior League in Arlington and Mansfield Chamber of Commerce. Be sure to check out more images from Carrie's work on her website at The Event Messenger!

Jill & Ben's Highlights Video - Bogle Productions

2009-03-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

Jill and Ben were married last summer and selected Bogle Productions to capture their big day on video. Cory from Bogle did an amazing job and I'm excited to be able to share the highlights video below...enjoy! :)

Sweet Pea Events Launching "Be Inspired!" ~ Wedding Planning Workshop in Dallas!

2009-03-26T22:17:00.000-07:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

I am excited to announce that the Dallas Office of Sweet Pea Events is launching an intensive one-day workshop called “Be Inspired!” for people interested in learning more about the wedding business and inside scoop on becoming a Wedding Planner! We have had so many inquiries over the past few years from people aspiring to be a Wedding Planner, so I'm excited we are now able to expand our services and help others develop their careers.

Here are high-level details about the workshop:

When: Wednesday, April 8, 2009 – 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Where: The Dallas Arboretum - 8525 Garland Road Dallas, Texas 75218. For more information about this beautiful venue, please visit www.dallasarboretum.org
Why: There are some excellent wedding planner certification programs and networking groups available. However, we have found that there are very few options for people interested in simply attending a workshop to learn more about the wedding industry and what is involved with becoming a Wedding Planner. My goal is to offer an affordable solution where you can Be Inspired, soak in a ton of valuable information and great take-aways which will help you to determine if wedding planning is the right career path for you. With my 8 years of experience as a Planner, I’m excited to share my history with aspiring Wedding Planners and help give you a jump start into this wonderful industry! I also have a passion for developing others, as I was in Human Resources prior to the wedding industry and thoroughly enjoy providing training and development opportunities!
What: We will cover a variety of topics which will include: Wedding Industry Statistics and Trends, Basics of Owning a Wedding Planning Business, Day in the Life of a Wedding Planner, Marketing Tips, Establishing Vendor Relationships, Pricing & Sales, Next Steps You Can Pursue, and More!
How: To reserve your space in this workshop, please contact Kelly at kelly@sweetpeaevents.net to request a registration form no later than Friday, April 3, 2009. The total cost of this workshop is $200 which will include lunch. If you bring a friend, the cost for each of you will only be $150! Registration will close on Friday, April 3, 2009, so please ensure your registration form and payment are submitted by then. Note: Class size will be limited to 20 participants and is based on a first-come, first-serve basis. Considering the requests we have already received, this workshop will fill up quickly. Looking forward to your participation and meeting you in person!

Wine Country Whimsical Wedding!

2009-03-23T23:46:00.000-07:00

Posted by Kelly Simants

Wow…when Joann Arruda Photography sent me the pictures from Jill and Nick’s wedding at Willows Lodge I was beyond impressed! Not only was she a blast to work with, but she captured the essence of this magical, colorful wine country wedding just perfectly. Thank you, Joann, for providing these incredible images!

Jill was an amazingly creative bride (oh and fun fact, she and Nick are both Rocket Scientists, literally...soooo smart!!) She pulled all of these design elements together on her own, then called on Sweet Pea Events to help bring the final touches together. They selected our "Month-Of" package so they could sit back and enjoy the final weeks before the big day and hand over the plans to us. I loved all of the details that went into this wedding…especially the bags of kettle corn which were used as escort cards, and whimsical tablescapes with bright poppy colors along with ferns, moss, grass, and river rock to create a very enchanting atmosphere!

Congratulations Jill & Nick, it was such a joy working with you both!

Beautiful invitation suite and programs designed by the fabulously talented Whitney & Jonathan of Brown Sugar Design.

Love these detail shots!

Fabulous Vendors Jill & Nick Selected:

Ceremony Location: Bothell First Lutheran
Ceremony Musicians: Bottom Line Duo
Reception Venue & Caterer: Willows Lodge
DJ: Seattle DJ’s
Florist: Fena Flowers
Gown: Marcella’s La Boutique
Invitations & Programs: Brown Sugar Design
Photographer: Joann Arruda
Transportation: British Motor Coach
Cake: Despi DeLite Bakery
Rehearsal Dinner: Purple Café & Wine Bar in Woodinville, WA

Cupcakes are not just for kids anymore!

2009-03-21T18:21:00.000-07:00

Posted by Holly-Kate Foss

I have been dreaming about visiting Trophy Cupcakes this month! They have a delicious cupcake being featured through the end of March. The much desired and highly popular Chocolate Guinness Stout with Baileys Buttercream is back at Trophy for its third year. Can you tell that I was excited to go and try this month's cupcake?

We stopped by Trophy last night and experienced the Chocolate Guinness Stout Cupcake as well as the Snickerdoodle Cupcake. They were both fabulous and I would highly suggest you stop by for a visit and try both of these flavors! But don't forget to check their weekly calendar on their website to see if your desired cupcake will be available for a taste. Most popular flavors are available daily, but some special cupcakes are only available on specific days.

Trophy Cupcakes can also create your perfect Wedding Cupcake! They can customize your wedding cupcake to match your theme and style. You can special order cupcakes with your monogram, meaningful symbols, or photographic art on them. Trophy can deliver, set-up and decorate to your specifications.

We are looking forward to seeing another amazing display by Trophy Cupcake on April 25th at Rebecca and Glenn's Wedding!

Thank you Trophy for a truly amazing cupcake ~ the Chocolate Guinness Stout Cupcake it my new favorite flavor!

Wedding Day Emergency Kit

2009-03-16T19:27:00.000-07:00

Image by Laurel McConnell Photography

Posted by Kelly Simants

If you are planning an event of any kind (especially a wedding), then an "emergency kit" is a must-have! I have recently realized from talking with a few people that not everyone knows exactly what is in an emergency kit, or what it's used for.

The main reason to have an emergency kit - even though you've planned everything to a T and all of the details are completely in order, you just never know what hiccups you might experience the day-of. So why not come prepared?!

What the emergency kit is typically used for - with a wedding, a button may fall off of a tux and need to be sewn back on, your bridesmaid may have blisters and need some relief, or you might need some face blotters to help take the shine away! Each event or wedding I'm at, my emergency kit (pictured above) is used at least 10 times....not by just the bride and groom, but by their wedding party, family members, or even guests.

Here are the items I recommend including in an emergency kit - Through the years I have come to learn what items are most important to have, so I wanted to share a few tips in case you want to create your own emergency kit:

Small sewing kit - tip: include a few white/ivory/black/buttons
Crochet hook - tip: if you have alot of buttons on your gown, this is a lifesaver!
Aspirin/Tylenol
Antacid
Clear nail polish
White nail polish - tip: to touch up any chips on a French Mani/Pedi! Sephora has great mini sized bottles that are perfect for the emergency kit.
Safety pins - variety of sizes
Small scissors
Tissue
Stain remover - tip: I've found that the travel-sized Shout Wipes work best!
Hairspray
Face blotters
Deodorant - tip: can also be used for any chafing issues! :)
Deodorant remover - tip: try using "Gal Pals" to get those annoying deoderant marks off your dress!
Brown/black bobby pins
Nail file
Extra earring backs
Eyelash glue - tip: even if your faux lashes are glued securely earlier in the day, I've seen it time and time again where the lash starts slipping or falls off, for whatever reason. Great to have extra glue!
Breath mints
Band-aids
Dr. Scholls "cushiony foam" - to help prevent blisters, or provide relief from already formed blisters...this product is awesome! The dispensers cuts the foam to any size so you can customize it for your shoes.
Small sample size perfume
Tampons
Rubber bands
Extra ribbon - tip: if you rented your reception vases, but want to give flower arrangements to your guests, use some wide ribbon to tie the flowers together in bunches so your guests can easily transport the flowers home!
Straws - tip: when you're in the middle of photos and need a sip from a water bottle, stick a straw in it so that your perfect lips aren't ruined and photos can continue uninterrupted!
Eye drops
Tweezers
Q-tips
Mini lint brush
Wet wipes
Static cling spray - Static Guard works great!
Bug spray (specifically for outdoor weddings) - tip: make sure it's a non-scented kind!
Travel sized steamer (of course won't fit in your "kit") - used to remove any last minute wrinkles. Be sure to check in advance whether the fabric of your gown or bridesmaids dresses can be steamed!
Last but not least...Hollywood Fashion Tape! I think I have used this tape for literally everything under the sun...it's awesome. The most frequent uses I've found are to keep hems from falling, straps from slipping, etc.

This is by no means an inclusive list of items that you might need the day-of, but just having these basics on hand could end up saving your day!

Sweet Pea Events Featured in Style Me Pretty & Southern Weddings Blogs!

2009-03-11T13:13:00.000-07:00

Today we were featured in both Style Me Pretty and Southern Weddings blogs! I'm so excited, as both of these weddings and brides were beyond fabulous to work with. Their weddings were so romantic and elegant, and I'm thrilled that other brides will be able to see all of the stunning detail that my clients put into their special celebrations. Also, we are proud members of Style Me Pretty's "Little Black Book" so be sure to check out their site for great resources and inspiration!

Special thanks to Laurel McConnell for sharing her incredible images from Sarah and Nathan's wedding which are posted in the Style Me Pretty blog. And, huge thanks to the fabulous Michelle Moore for submitting Lauren and Dave's wedding to Southern Weddings. Both of you are phenomenal Artists and Photographers and I love working with you!

Enjoy these blog features - and thanks again to Sarah & Nathan, and Lauren & Dave for being such awesome clients to work with and allowing me to be part of your big day!

From SMP - Southern Weddings