No really... I am Living the Dream- The SSD Photo Shoot

For those of you who know me, when you ask how I am doing, my response is 9 times out of 10: I'm Living the Dream. Hell I say it so much it was piped on my birthday cake this year by one of my fave bakers (Don with 10th Street) as a surprise.

And then one day. It came true. Shortly after I blew out those candle on that exact cake.

When I envisioned Signed Sealed Delivered Events, I knew what I wanted my business announcement to look like and I knew who I wanted to be a part of it.

It was quite the surreal day. Hair - thank you sweet Jamie at Whimz. Makeup - a million thank you's to the oh-so-talented Bobby Brown and Chanel makeup artist, Patty Meketa Needleman. Costume (it's more fun to call it a costume- makes me feel fancy)-  Picked out with the help of  Beth Foley, a dear FP bride who I hold so close to my heart. Thanks for helping me shop, even though you didn't know what for.

I'm not used to having all that excitement!  But let us not stop there...

Fabulous shoes- thank you rain for making me stay in Kohl's that extra hour so as not to get drenched and having to scour over the clearance rack to stumble upon these gems!


You would think I just won a Grammy, right?

The on-site location was down town Belleville, my home town, born and raised, and I am proud of it. Once my first brides arrived, some halfway in their dresses, the lacing and bustling began. Not too abnormal for me.

Then more and more people showed up. Even the sweet Noreen who I stalked for 9 months to get my job at the hotel as the wedding and events coordinator was there.

Directing traffic. An audience of onlookers. Police escorts...
All these people showing up to support me
All these brides...

And most hilarious, brides that were the background of the picture. At one point I said: it's not about you broads today... And it didn't feel right, it didn't feel real.

Insert goosebumps and tears here... 

As my dear friend June was up on a ladder taking my picture. THE very picture I imagined in my head for months and months, I couldn't help but tear up. When I said EXACT, I mean EXACT.

But it was kinda hard. Standing the right way, tilting your head just right, this hip here, that hip there, left foot green, right hand yellow. Seriously, its tough. And now I understand why Jennifer Aniston makes a ton of money- posing, modeling and acting is REALLY hard! I use the Jen reference as some of you may know I drink Smart Water because she endorses it and I wear her perfume. I've said for years, as long as I follow her regime, I will eventually look like her. Check out my "Get Your Hair Did" board on Pinterest- she is all over it.

I will be darned if one day while meeting with the fabulous invitation/paper product designer Amanda from Unique Moments at the Bread Co., and elderly woman came up to me and said: I am sorry to bother you, but I just had to say, you look a little like Jennifer Aniston. Mind you she said "a little" not "just like" and she could be legally blind, but that didn't matter. From that moment on, I was convinced that the law of attraction works.

Anyway, back to the story. Everything about the day was fantastic.

Pops and Shel- you seriously will never meet a better father- daughter duo

THE most gorgeous dress, tattoo, personality and heart is packaged in this pretty lil thing.

Even the margaritas afterwards with one of THE most gorgeous dresses and brides ever- check out the FAB tattoo! and her dad, the director of traffic. And my sweet little friend Courtney who has supported me since the very mention of this idea, the one who has worked SEVERAL long event weekends with me was the first to volunteer to be a bride in this shoot in her most precious of wedding gowns- so Carrie Bradshaw. 

Courtini/Carrie

The whole night was so emotional for me and perfect- it was just a huge wave of "holy-shit-this-is-real-are-you-ready?" Well rest assured, I more more than ready world. In fact, 2013 horoscope told me so. That too is a true story. When I got home I didn't want to take my $15 shoes off... I really am Living the Dream... I have said it for years... all those motivational quotes, positive affirmations, the genuine "I-want-your-day-to-be-perfect-no-matter-what-it-takes" attitude, you get what you give way of life really has paid of.

THANK YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK:

JUNE HALLOWELL

BROOKE G IMAGES and BROOKE G IMAGES WIRED

FOR CAPTURING THIS DREAM ON CAMERA AND VIDEO. I COULDN'T IMAGINE A BETTER LINE UP OF TALENT.

LOVE YOU BROADS (and Damon)

And we can't of course not give a shout out to these pretties:

Lacey

Angel

Natasha

Courtini

Alison my NYE bride

Kate the Great

Tena

Lauren

Lindsay

Little Michelle

Mag Pie

A shout out to the secret support staff- you know who you are.

I am blessed beyond words to have met you 5 short years ago.

And last but not least huge hug to my mom- I can't help but say it every single day.

Thank you for believing in me, for supporting me, for being my mom and my best friend.

xoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxo

***please note, I am well aware that I am breaking some grammatical rules in case my high school English takes a ganderloo at this-... my disclaimer is that it's part of my charm***

When I Grow Up

I love connecting with people, building friendships and creating networks of wedding professionals who can come together and make a girl's dream come true and rock their reception- beyond what they thought was even possible. I've been making these connections for the last five years. Some are connections and others I consider friends. And although I am not new to the industry, I am coming from a different angle now; not representing a reception venue, but as an independent coordinator of Signed Sealed Delivered Events . 

One would think that networking and even "friending" someone who is seen as your competition would be bad bad bad bad bad. I guess I just don't think that way.
Why can't we be friends?
There's plenty of business to go around...
Help someone out, pay it forward, welcome them to your industry....
Not the general consensus that I noticed... Of course maybe it's just me...
But I am determined to play the game differently. 

I learned a very beautiful lesson from two very admired wedding professionals. Michael Nolte, wedding planner, designer and owner of Nolte's Bridal and Kindra Browne owner of Simple Elegance Bridal Coordination Firm were featured speakers at the Wedding Market Expo I attended this past spring. Of all the pages and pages of notes that I took that week, one thing really struck me during Kindra's session. She said when she started her business, a friend told her to contact Michael and ask him to lunch. Of course she thought this sounded crazy as he was the premiere coordinator in the area, why would he meet with her. She eventually built up the courage to ask him and guess what he said... he said YES! (all puns intended here friends!)
So moral of the story is Michael offered his time, advice and encouragement to someone who was new in the industry. He didn't see her as a threat; he saw her as someone he could mentor.
How noble and kind and talk about passing it on.... I have got to meet people like that here.

Me, Kindra Browne, GiGi and Dana

GiGi, Michael Nolte and me

That day in April began my search for a mentor, my "Michael Nolte." I found her at my first Association of Bridal Consultants meeting. Funny thing was, it wasn't our first meet and greet. Aaren was a coordinator for a wedding I worked at the hotel on 9.10.11. Now the reason I remember the date is not because the catchiness of the numbers. It was because the reception was booked to start an hour later than what was printed on the invites. 200 people hanging out in a sun drenched lobby on a hot summer day while my staff, Aaren and her magical assistants and I began racing around to get things ready as quick as possible. Long story short, we became a team pretty darn quickly and everyone ate, danced and partied happily ever after that night. 

It was to my surprise that we met again just a few months ago.
Although I don't know why I act surprised as it is such a small, small world.

I recently built up my courage to ask for advice that I knew I was going to need. I met Aaren and her adorable mini me, Angela, at the charming City Coffeehouse and Creperie in Clayton for a chat on the sun porch. If you have not ventured out to this delicious joint, you need to put it on your list. This is just a small sample of their menu, not even including all the crepes.... Mouthwatering I tell ya.... they even make their own bagel chips in house... buttery goodness that pairs perfectly with any salad.  www.citycoffeeandcreperie.com 

Ok, back to what we are really talking about. 
I could have just hugged sweet Aaren, which come to think of it, I did. More than once. I am a hugger, I can't help it.

She was open and honest and answered every question I had. And most importantly, she had the same thought process as Michael Nolte; welcome to the club! Here's some helpful tips that I wish I would have known when I started. Pay it forward. You will do great just remember this is a business...

It was absolutely refreshing to be around this successful southern woman of wisdom, authenticity and positive energy- someone I want to be when I grow up. 

Sweet Aaren is striking a pose second from the right
at an ABC event at Villa Marie Winery in Maryville, IL last month

***please note, I am well aware that I am breaking some grammatical rules in case my high school English takes a ganderloo at this-... my disclaimer is that it's part of my charm***