The Dreamsicle Wedding

Jenny Wilson started planning her orange and ivory wedding 24 months out.

At least that's when she came to SSD Events and I met her.

She knew that it would be worth it.

After all, she waited 10 years for a proposal from Myron.

And boy oh boy it could not have been any more heartfelt and sentimental.

Myron was on bended knee at the monkey house at the zoo with a stuffed monkey (Jenny’s favorite), armful of flowers and their family present, including their adorable mini me’s: Serena and Alaina.

Here's an actual photo of the proposal that was used as table number.

So fast forward to October 11, 2014

The song choices alone, and you are welcome I am not including a link to each one, were absolute perfection. Admittedly I am bias as half of her wedding soundtrack (as I like to call it) is exactly what I have on mine. To name a few, “I’ve Finally Found Someone” by Barbara Streisand and “Every Time I Close My Eyes” by Babyface.

We spent hours, accompanied by chips ahoy and chardonnay, rehearsing and brainstorming and organizing and planning and re-planning and I am so glad we did. Not only was it beautiful day but I now have another beautiful friend that I plan on keeping forever.

Jenny made most of her decorations, spray painting, glittering, printing and setting up mock guest tables until we knew it would be just right. The rest of her décor (linen, chiavari chairs, chargers and candelabras) was rented through Grand Rental Fairview

Chef Art and the Four Points staff outdid themselves again- the room was beautiful and the food out of this world! It’s like coming home every time I come back to the Four Points and I truly love that.

The gorgeous bridal bouquets and floral and tree centerpieces were from Schnucks Floral. 

Beauty started early that day for the girls. But we had an incredible team of glamour technicians- The Glam Fam The GlamFam  who I have to give them props, at the last minute, they saved the day when another stylist was unable to make it. As always, you girls rule!

And while the girls got glammed up, the boys helped eachother get jazzed up!

Because our timeline was tight, we made the most of the day by taking pictures beforehand.

Talk about a good looking group of guys!

Here's Jenny and Myron had their first look I am 110% sure he loved what he saw!

Their bridal party was sooo much fun! 

The ceremony took place at the breathtaking Jewel Box in Forest Park

There I am hiding in that tree as I cued the gals walking down the aisle

Jenny spent weeks rehearsing a surprise choreographed performance for her reception complete with a second dress and shoes! 

And you can see her girls rehearsed with her. {cue the "awwwww" here}

Jenny's Aunt Bonnie lovingly made the wedding cakes and designed just as she wanted, with lots of bling and personalized with photos! 

The reception was complete with a photobooth

And fantastic music by Partytime DJ's! Daryl kept the dance floor packed all night long!

A highlight of the night was Coldstone Creamery - which is always so much fun

and so delicious for guests!

I love being a part of days like these, precious moments like these watching two families and all their friends come together to celebrate two people promising to love each other for a thousand years… (that song was also featured on their wedding soundtrack).

My job is so wonderful and I am such a lucky girl that this is what my passion and purpose in life is.

Thank you again for reading as I brag about my brides and SSD Events on this blog.

xoxo

Happy Mother's Day!

Alicia and Lynetta   Photo by Signed Sealed Delivered Events

SHARE THE LOVE!!! IT'S MOTHER'S DAY!

Today is the day to reflect on how much we love, honor, cherish and appreciate our mommas, the women in our lives who have raised us, whom we look up to, learn from and lean on.

Rebecca and Susan    Photo by Abbey Miller Sigler

The ones who walked us to school till we were old enough to take the bus.
The ones who read us bed time stories.
The ones who consoled us in the middle of the night after a bad dream.
The ones who showed us how to shave our legs, to put on mascara and how to act like a lady.
(Clearly this blog is geared towards the ladies...)
The ones who taught us how to boil pasta, and to shop around for the best deals. 
To treat others with kindness and compassion and love.
Who taught us how to wrap a gift with newspaper and yarn and still look beautiful.
Who taught us all the words to the Sound of Music soundtrack...

Alison and her beautiful momma    Photo by Ten Sixteen Photo

I could go on and on and on...

As a planner at Signed Sealed Delivered Events I work super close with brides and grooms. That's a given.
Bbbbuuuuuuttttt I also work with their mommas.
Sometimes behind the scenes and sometimes even more than I do with my couples!

Shana and Doris   photo by Brooke G Images

So today I would like to give a shout out to those ladies... my mothers of the bride and mothers of the groom. You ladies rock! And I love you all!

I gotta be honest, my mom is my best friend and although I am a wedding planner (in real life) I will have her in attendance for most of the big wedding decisions for my up future vows to my love connection {spoiler alert}.

This is me and my momma in real life!
Photo by my dear friend BiBi check her out  Photo Elegance
She does beautiful family portraits and weddings!!!

I am going to include just a teensy bit of wedding planning info from Signed Sealed Delivered Events to those who need it... but in the meantime, check out a few of my favorite mother daughter wedding moments!!!

Ashely and Kim  Photo by Josie Anderson

Lauren and Dawn    Photo by friend of the family

Danielle and Diane   Photo by Complete Weddings and Events

Times have changed and so have the roles for moms. Looking for some ways to keep the moms involved with the planning process? Here's a few from Signed Sealed Delivered Events! 

- menu tasting
- guest list planning
- co-hosting the showers
- some moms even come to bachelorette parties 
- budget planning- especially if they are contributing
- I like to ask moms to come to the floral designer appointments because not only do they have good taste, but in some cases moms have been to way more weddings than you and your fiance so they will have a good idea of who on each side will get flowers in addition to the bridal party and centerpieces
- in most cases your parents are your co-hosts of the wedding and they will be assisting in greeting guests when you are taking photos and visiting with other guests
- wedding dress shopping
- bridesmaids dress shopping
- and of course you should definitely accompany her to HER dress shopping!

This makes my heart sooo happy!!! Jenny and her girls!!!
Photo by Ravetta Photography

Have a wonderful mother's day! Give your mothers and mother in laws a big ole smooch today and tell them thank you for being a part of your world and making it a better place.

xoxooxox,

Ashlee

I L.O.V.E. a Winter Wedding

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same” - Flavia Weddn

In a nutshell, this is how I feel how Danielle and Billy Clark's winter wedding. They showed up and I never wanted them to leave let alone have their wedding be here and over. 

But it came and went and it was freaking awesome. And I can prove it.

So not only did we share a love of sparkle and winter weddings, but also Pitch Perfect...
I received this text BEFORE 8 am the morning AFTER the wedding! 

And then they both got amazing jobs in Florida and moved right after the wedding. And now and we still talk almost every day. 

Like I tell all my clients, basically once you sign that contract, you are stuck with me forever... 

From The Sandlot- LOVE that movie!

When Danielle and her sweet mama came to Signed Sealed Delivered Events last spring, we were nine months out and the organizational queen of numbers and all things wedding needed assistance and advice keeping them on budget, on track and bringing that Pinterest board to reality. Which we did with so much creative love. See our handmade bouquets and centerpieces!!! 

Our instructions were specific, no flowers! Lots of sparkle!
We went a completely different direction from her Pinterest  board (see ours here) full of Christmas ornaments. 
The bouquet was a labor of love and built from brooches from family and friends at all of Danielle's showers.

The reception was held at Bellecourt Place and Manor in Belleville, Illinois. The food there is delicious! The staff and management are friendly, hard working and very accommodating. It's become a favorite venue of mine, but of course I am bias because I was born and raised in Bellevegas and I love tradition!

Back drop and chair covers rented from Grand Rental Station

This space was completely (all puns intended) transformed with the uplighting provided by
Complete Weddings and Events Complete Weddings and Events also provided DJ services, photobooth, photography and videography.

I was in L.O.V.E. with the head table backdrop- all sequins and the LOVE letters
that Danielle and Billy rented through Signed Sealed Delivered Events
Handmade by my dad Stanimal because I couldn't find the exact right set to buy...
#ilovemydad   #myfatherthehero

The ceremony was held in the Bellecourt Place which is an old church on the same property as the Manor so super convenient for guests! 

We served champagne as guests entered the ceremony! 

Megs and Bobby right before go time

And my beautiful bride Danielle with proud daddy behind. Cue the tears! I love this pic!
Danielle walked down the aisle to A Thousand Years... goosebumps!

BEST USHERS EVER! 

All sparkles and uplighting for the ceremony
Need an officiant for your wedding? Check out our friends at St. Louis Officiant

We did most pictures before hand which made for smooth sailing right into cocktail hour! And it took A LOT of coaxing( as it always does with my grooms), but we did do the FIRST LOOK before the ceremony which was so magical and heartfelt AND it took a lot of pressure off the ceremony because both Bill and Danielle got a chance to be just the two of them and relax before group photos in down town  Belleville and saying "I Do". 

Stud muffin! 

Ladies man! PS love our bouquets here!
Bridesmaids dresses were Dessy and from Girls Night Out Boutique

The bridal party had a blast on the luxury bus from Epic Entertainment

Fur is a must for winter weddings!

Not going to lie, this will be my "framer" from this wedding.
I have one from each wedding.
Thanks to Mark and Caley for capturing them so perfectly! xoxo

There was also a First Look of the ballroom! I was so glad my crew at Signed Sealed Delivered Events was present for this...it was really quite emotional.

  

Nailed it!

Hugs all around for Mama Sparkle

 

The grand entrance for this wedding was so much fun! Bill and his groomsmen all played college football and some are college football coaches now. The party favors were rally towels that said Living the Dream that the guests waived as the bridal party entered the room. The football and Living The Dream was carried out through the planning (hence the planner and the name of her blog) and the wedding! 

Cake and cupcakes from Sweet Sinsation Bakery 

Champagne bowl rented from Signed Sealed Delivered Events

Rally towels and invitations custom designed through Unique Moments

Did you know that we are a Unique Moments representative and we can help you design
gorgeous wedding invitations at very affordable prices?

Yes we even played a little football during the reception ...

 

All in all the entire evening was a success complete with Coldstone Creamery

An awesome party favor for guests!

 

A surprise cobalt blue dress...

And a sparkler send off...

Danielle and Billy, I can't thank you enough not only for the opportunity to be a part of such an intimate moment of your lives, but also for being a part of my heart. 

xoxo,

Your Wedding Planner

If you want to see more of this wedding, check out the video from Complete Weddings and Events

Nathan is an awesome videographer!!

PS some of the most beautiful wedding vows ever!

And yes I took a pic, I wanted to remember them always. 

***some of these images are courtesy of Complete Weddings and Events (Mark and Caley rule!) but most are courtesy of my awesome iphone 6 with the sparkly case***