Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Candela!

Hello Friends!

We had a great weekend over here and I hope you had the same! This weekend I had the honor of creating a Wedding Celebration for two fabulous people, Alison and Drew Candela. This couple was

kind, creative, sweet...all the adjectives you want with a couple. I believe in making my clients closer than just clients. I want to get to know them, what they are about. What is is that brought them together in the first place? They were sweet enough to share with me their one-of-a-kind story. Enjoy!

We met during our sophomore year at Miami University and became friends.  However, we were friends for 2 years before we began dating at the beginning of our senior year.  After college, we both moved to the Chicago suburbs where Drew grew up.  After living in the suburbs for 3 years, we moved to the the city.  On a lovely evening at the end of January 2011, Alison impatiently waited for Drew to get home to eat dinner.  All she wanted was to order pizza, but Drew was insistent that he wanted to go to Jake's, a neighborhood Chicago-style eatery, for an Italian Beef (a favorite of Chicagoans).  (Little did Alison know that he just needed an excuse to get her out of the house).  After dinner, we walked back to our condo.  Once we inside the gate of our condo entrance, Drew got down on one knee and asked Alison to marry him!  She said 'of course'!!

Fast forward to March 10, 2012. A palate of black, teal and purple set the scene for this creative and fun wedding celebration. Each table number was handmade to honor all their memories at their Alma Mater Miami University and the bold colors helped to show off their bold personality.

While they were dancing the night away, guest snuck away to the photo booth so they could capture memories for themselves. To assist in this, each escort card was actually a photo strip frame, personalized for each person. We love this idea!

It was an honor to celebrate this day with this great couple! What personal touches do you think you would add to make your event unique? We would love to know!

~Eventfully, Jefferson

Whimsical Wednesday – Think outside of the box with us!



Emily Kay Photography

 Every Bride wants to stand out and be unique on their Wedding Day. From the something borrowed, blue, old and new to a unique headpiece or non-traditional bouquet, it seems as though these days that almost every bride is pushing the limits on this topic. As I was browsing through some online albums today, I stumbled upon this photo and I just had to share! This picture is from Emily Kay Photography and it definitely stopped me in my tracks.

If you are looking for a simple and fun way to incorporate more color into your wedding gown, this is an excellent solution. A little can go a long way and a hint of crinoline peeking out from underneath your gown may be just the ticket! Would you keep your dress traditional floor - length, or would be daring like this gal and shorten the length altogether?

What do you think? Share your thoughts with us!

~Eventfully, Jefferson

WNCI's Sweetheart is engaged!

A few weeks ago, I heard that Kelsey Webb, from WNCI’s “The Morning Zoo” was engaged. One of the wittiest, smartest and most beautiful gals in Columbus is getting married? I had to know more! 

Kelsey graciously agreed to meet me on a sunny Saturday morning for an interview. I quickly noticed a few things about her; 1.) She was naturally beautiful, 2.) Her engagement ring was like nothing I had ever seen before, and 3.) I knew when she insisted she buy her own coffee that I was dealing with a very down to earth girl… and I was right!

As we began to talk, Kelsey told me that she and her fiancé, known on the show as “Meatball”, had met during an internship at Ohio State. “At first I thought he was boring,” Kelsey said to me while chuckling. She went on to tell me that their love finally sparked on none other than…AIM. Yes ladies and gentlemen, the on-line chat forum that kept us all entertained prior to smart phones is what initially connected these two lovebirds. Although it was not Kelsey who made the first move, “My roommate pretended she was me on AIM and asked him out!”

Fast forward eight years and here we are. Kelsey filled me in on her fears of moving in with someone for the first time and all the anxiety that can go along with it. “I was terrified of moving in with someone. I’m an only child and I lived alone for five years. But, I was so wrong. I had nothing to be worried about. I know the ‘cookie cutter’ way of doing things doesn’t always work, especially for me. Sometimes I need to do things backwards, at my own pace.”

That backwards formula also applied to Kelsey’s wedding dress. “I actually bought my wedding dress last summer, long before I got engaged. I was on vacation with my mom in Toronto. We had watched an episode of “Say Yes to the Dress” the night before. It was our last day there and we were power-shopping. I randomly saw a white dress at a non-bridal boutique, tried it on just for fun and it was perfect! My mom was there, it was totally affordable, and I was able to stuff it into my suitcase. I couldn’t pass it up!” Kelsey gave me the honor of sneaking a peek of the dress on her phone and it is amazing!

At this point I couldn’t help but ask Kelsey how she knew he was the one? What is the turning point in your relationship that takes you from fear of the unknown to being completely confident that this person is the right one for you? I must say, the girl gives good advice. “Honestly, there is no jealousy in our relationship. He just lets me be me and I try to do the same for him. His parents are still madly in love and that was his example. I’ve had a lot of lessons to learn and through everything he’s been my rock. There are no rules for what works for a couple. You need to create them to fit your own wants and needs.”

“So what’s the story with the ring?” I inquired? Kelsey’s left hand donned two white gold bands, each containing five stones lined up side by side. This is not what you would consider your traditional engagement ring but then again, by now we know that Kelsey is no ‘traditional’ girl.”

“I love jewelry, and I love bling!” She said, eyes sparkling. “I didn’t want something dainty, so I took things into my own hands. We had gone back home for the holidays and I found a great deal. The jewelry store was having a half-off sale ending on Christmas Eve. There was no way to pass this deal up, so I told him about it. I didn’t expect him to propose the next day! He told me after the fact that he wanted me to wear it right away!”

As she went on I realized the proposal was the most traditional of the arrangement. “It was Christmas Eve, in front of his parents’ Christmas tree, just me and him. I’m a crier, but I didn’t cry. Our relationship is more practical than emotional, but it works for us. Christmas was a great time to get engaged, because we were able to celebrate with all of our family, instead of telling them the news over the phone.” She went on to tell me more, “Our engagement was actually upstaged by two other surprises. My cried when we told him our news. But he cried even harder when my half-brother showed up, because he wasn’t supposed to make it home. Then my brothers gave my dad an HD TV and he sobbed forever. It was seriously like a Samsung commercial!”

Of course I am a Wedding Planner, so I began inquiring about all the details. I can guarantee you that this will absolutely be a one-of-a-kind day for a one-of-a-kind couple. When I asked her about her thoughts for the wedding, she simply said “I am just enjoying the process.” Go Kelsey!

In conclusion I asked Kelsey what her advice would be for single girls out there looking for ‘the one’. “The most important relationship you have is with yourself” she said; “…put energy into loving and knowing yourself first. Everything else will fall into place.”

Thanks Kelsey for this great opportunity!

Eventfully, Jefferson

The First Dance - How do you pick the perfect song?

The first dance:  Those few fleeting minutes at every wedding reception where a new husband and wife make their “entrance” into the world as a married couple. The one song that plays as your closest family and friends watch adoringly as you romantically stare into each other’s eyes, swaying (hopefully with some grace)  to the rhythm of a lovely song.

As a Wedding Planner, of course I have thought of what song I would want played for the first dance between my new husband and me at our Wedding Reception. This one tune would have to be something inspiring. It would have to be a song that would even stop your ridiculous Uncle Joe from telling yet another corny and wildly inappropriate joke (if even just for a few minutes). With this one song - heads would turn, one could hear a pin drop, and there wouldn’t be a dry eye in the place. The one song where your guests (man, woman and child alike) would tip their heads ever so slightly to the side and think to themselves “I wish I could feel the way they do, right now.”, or “I remember our first dance.”

Picking that song can be quite the daunting task. You want this song to say so much, in such a short period of time, without being too showy or cheesy. With that being said, here are some of my favorite picks for first dance songs. Pull up YouTube and have some fun friends!

1.       “Falling in love at a Coffee Shop:” by Landon Pig

This song just makes you want to gaze into someone’s eyes and just be.

2.       “Right Here Waiting for You” by Richard Marx

Yes, this song is a throwback to a time of perms and fountains built into wedding cakes, but it always makes me stop dead in my tracks. This song is an anthem for raw, real love.

3.       “The Blowers Daughter” by Damien Rice

This song is simple and emotional. A co-worker of mine used this as her first dance song and it certainly stopped all guests dead in their tracks!

4.       “The Girl” by City and Colour

I want someone to feel that way about me. ‘Nough said.

5.       “The Way you look tonight” by Frank Sinatra

Seriously, need you ask more? It is classic, simple and elegant. Sinatra is timeless, just like you and your fiancé!

6.       “To Make You Feel My Love” by Adele

A strong soulful voice and inspiring lyrics can bring a couple together. Perhaps this song tells a story of a tumultuous relationship past – or maybe even this song says what some can’t verbalize.

7.       “Your Song” by Elton John

First, who doesn’t love Elton John? This song is full of inspiration for any couple starting their new life together. I find it terribly romantic!

8.       “Inevitable” by Anberlin

If you have not heard this song, I recommend you YouTube it immediately! It is very charming. The chorus says “I want to be your last first kiss”. Seriously? Fantastic!

9.       “Everything I Do” by Bryan Adams

Because I said so. It is a great song and you know it.

10.    “She’s Got a Way” by Billy Joel

Ok, so I am a little biased for Billy Joel, but when I was 6 or 7, I heard this song while with my Dad and he told me “One day, if you meet a man you want to marry – this is how he should feel about you, and not anything less.” That statement always stuck with me.

11.   “By Your Side” by Sade

This song makes me daydream, it is so perfectly beautiful.

12.   “More than Words” by Extreme

This may be another throwback, but an excellent song nevertheless!

13.   “Me and You” by Kenny Chesney

I don’t see myself as an ordinary girl and this song describes the kind of “extraordinary” love I hope to be in when I marry one day. Cheesy, yes…but its how I think!

14.   “Because of You” by Tony Bennett

Why? Because, it’s Tony Bennett!

15.   “Wouldn’t’ it be Nice?” by the Beach Boys

I love, love, love this song! It is light, airy and fun. Perfect for a laid back couple looking to kick off their reception with a bang!

While I realize that this song barely touches on the thousands of first dance songs available out there, my point is – make your first dance song different, make it unique to the both of you!

If you have an even better first dance song, please share! We love a good story and we love to learn, so bring it on!

Eventfully and Always, Jefferson

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Your Bridal Show Survial Guide!

Winter is such an amazing time. You have Christmas, New Years, and of course, engagement season! There is also the time of year where every Wedding Vendor prepares anxiously for that one BIG weekend to outdo them all...Columbus Bride: The Show. Two straight days of interacting with Friends in the industry, and of course, selling ourselves to Brides!

I have had the pleasure of attending more than a few of these events and I have been thinking recently about all the different things that go into having a succesful Bridal Show experience. As a Wedding Professional, it gets easier as the years go on - but what about the brides? I kept imagining what it would be like to attend one of these shows with no knowledge of the bridal industry - so much pressure! This show in particular had almost 200 Wedding Professionals and over 1000 brides -to -be! I imagine that this would be a little more than ovewhelming for someone who didn't know where to start!

After much deliberation, I have compiled my top list of things that will have any future bride (or groom!) prepared to walk confidently into any bridal expo and and accomplish everything on their to do list without suffering a mild stroke. Enjoy!

1. Dress for the occasion. First off Ladies, I cannot stress enough the need for comfortable footwear! 5 inch heels are just not condusive to what should be a fun and enjoyable day persusing a bridal show! I saw girls weeble, wobble and almost tumble for two days straight! Flats, boots or sneakers are going to help you get the most out of your bridal show experience! I imagine it would be extremely difficult to have a conversation with what could be the perfect vendor for you, but you can't comprehend anything they are saying because all you can think is "I can't feel my toes". If you still feel like you can't part with the pumps...at least throw a pair of cute ballet flats into your bag (you know, just in case). In regards to the rest of your perfectly plotted outfit - keep it simple. Try to avoid the bulky winter coats and sweaters. After about 20 minutes, you will be sweating and your coat will be on your last nerve. I recommend jeans and a light sweater or jacket to be most comfortable.

2. Part with the posse. Do you have 8 girls in your Bridal Party? While it is fantastic that you have such a large support system, we recommend you leave the posse at home. Sticking with Maid of Honor, your Mom or even your fiance is best! When you have more than a couple of people with you - the experience turns more into a tug of war over what shade of blue you like best, or who is going to sit with whom when the fashion show begins. These show are a great opportunity to see vendors at their best! If you are constantly fielding the opinions of half a dozen people who have tagged along with you, it may be hard to hear your own thoughts or you may not approach that one photographer you think looked great because you didn't want to hurt a friends feelings. Less is more friends, less is more.

3. Mailing Labels are your new best friend! Before attending any Bridal Show or Expo, take a few minutes to print off mailing labels with your contact information (Name, addresss, email, phone number, wedding date). This will save you much time when filling out entry forms and you won't have to worry about someone not being able to read your handwriting. You wouldn't want to miss out on that free Honeymoon you could have won, just because a vendor couldn't decifer your email address, do you? The beach is sounding pretty good right now with all this snow, right?!

4. Use your Vendor List to your advantage: I gave this advice to my brides this weekend and it received a pretty positive response! Lets say you are in the need of a photographer and cake artist,-look up their booth numbers on your map and find out where they are located. Grab a pen and walk around, casually strolling by their booth. As you go through, highlight the vendors that spark your interest with their display, photos, personality, etc. Next, go back and have converstations with those who captured your attention. You should view their work, sample their cakes and ask questions that are important to you. Once you have done this - it will be much easier to make a desicion about who you liked best. Their product and personality will be fresh in your mind and as I always say, "Go with your gut!"

5. Put your money where your mouth is: If someone approaches you inside or outside of a show and wants to have a conversation with you about their delectable cakes, visually stimulation videography or awesome photobooth - first ask what their booth number is. If they did not pay to be at the show, RUN! The Wedding Professionals at these shows work tirelessly to create a welcoming and positive enviroment for all the potential brides in attendance. Someone who is strolling in to try and attract brides without the footwork is no good to you. It shows they are not willing to invest the time, effort or money to solicit the right way. Think of it like the purse vendors in chinatown who lead you into an abandoned building where you have to knock three times on the back door and utter a password to get your hands on a shoddy Louis Vuitton? It's just bad business.

6. Pay Attention to Personality: I know I am not the only vendor who is saying this but, I had a blast this weekend! The booth next to ours was represented by a venue in Grove City, where two good friends of mine work as Wedding Planners. We laughed for two days straight! In between talking to brides and showing off our respective venues, we were able to catch up, laugh and reminise about the past. For me, catching up with industry "friends" and making new ones is one of the best parts of Bridal Expos! I had one bride tell me that it was my personality that first attracted her to come up and talk to me. That is such an amazing compliment! I believe in stress free Wedding Planning and I want all my couples to have the time of their lives, so this meant so much! By working with a vendor who matches your personality, you are so much more likely to be satisfied with the end result of their work, no matter what aspect of the industry they are in. So taking a little bit of time and watching how certain vendors interact with potential customers will tell you a lot about thier true personality.

7. Most Importantly, Have Fun! This is supposed to be the best time of your life! Take a deep breath, smile and enjoy the process! Don't be the girl in this photo!

8. Avoid Junk Mail! I borrowed the following tip from my friend Todd at Team DJ. Create a separate email for your Wedding Vendors. For example: kimandjaysbigday@gmail.com. This is going to help you stay organized with all of your vendor communication along with preventing the possibility of losing an important email while sorting through your inbox. Thanks Todd!

Visit out Facebook page "Jefferson Country Club Weddings and Events" to view some pics from this years show!

Eventfully, Jefferson

New Year - New Opportunities!

Welcome to 2012! A year of new chances, new friends, new opportunities and of course, the reason we are all here, new parties! I saw this quote and the lights came on for me! I feel like sometimes I get into a rut - recreating the same party with the same layout, the same food, the same everything. 2012 should be a year for chances...a year for new beginnings. That is exactly what I am going to do!

I would like to cordially thank you for following “Eventfully Jefferson”! In 2012 I look forward to exploring many different topics in the event planning world. From Birthdays, to Cookouts, to Weddings. This is going to be a great year...I can feel it!

By bringing together two of my favorite things, writing and parties, I hope to educate and entertain you these next 52 weeks. I will be covering a wide variety of topics from themes and trends to timelines and etiquette along with sharing highlights from our parties!

Do you have a topic you are interested in learning more about, or do you have a question you are dying to have answered? Simply shoot me an email or a Facebook message and I would love to explore and research that particular question or topic for you!

Eventfully~

Jefferson