Stonehouse Events

Tips For Creating Your Wedding Website

2012-01-12T15:01:00.000-08:00

Photo Courtesy of Google | http://ourweddingwall.com

Creating a Wedding Website is a great tool for keeping the lines of communication open between you and your guests. We recommend beginning a Wedding Website before you start your Save the Dates so you can include the website address on your Save the Date. Here are some other items you will want to include:

About Us: You can provide as much or as little information as you would like here. Be sure to include how you met and how he proposed!
Bridal Party
Ceremony
Reception
Gift Registry: This is the BEST place to let your guests know where you registered at!
Photo Galleries
Guest Book
Online RSVP
Travel Information
Accommodations: List all of the places you set up a room block at. Many of the hotels will provide a link for your guest's convenience.
Things to Do: If you have a lot of fun places for your guests to see while in town, be sure to include it here! Remember to include the place he proposed (if local) and your favorite restaurants!
Quizzes or Polls: If you want your guests to take part in selecting your first dance song or where you should go on your honeymoon, you will want to include this section! You can unveil the answers at your wedding reception!
Contact Us: You can provide an exclusive email address for your wedding guests only!

Please let us know if you have any specific questions regarding creating your Wedding Website. We would love to answer your questions! Have fun!

Best Wishes,

Cindy Stonehouse

Reflecting on 17 years of Marriage

2012-01-11T21:25:00.000-08:00

Then - January 7, 1995

This day 17 years ago exactly Saturday, January 7, 1995, I was a lucky bride walking down the aisle to marry the man of my dreams! I remember all of the excitement and overwhelming feelings of love I had that day! Now as I reflect back, here are some of the things that I am most thankful for!

Family and friends: We are so thankful to all of our family and friends who attended our wedding. I still have vivid memories of everyone there to witness one of the best days in our lives!

Video: My brother in law offered to video our ceremony and reception. Although he was not a professional videographer, I LOVE having my wedding video. My husband and I have watched it every year on our Anniversary (we no longer have VHS so we haven't been able to watch it in a while). Watching our wedding video makes me smile every time!

Photos: Although photography is so different now (I would love to get married again for all of the gorgeous photos!), I am still so thankful that we had a professional photographer, who understood the importance of our day and wanted to make sure they captured all of our precious moments! Having a true professional capture those moments makes all of the difference in the end.

Now - January 7, 2012 (not a professional photo)

Happy Anniversary! Here's to 17 more years!

Hugs XOXO,

Cindy Stonehouse

Stonehouse Events in The Knot Winter 2011 Special Edition Florida

2012-01-05T20:33:00.000-08:00

You can imagine our surprise and excitement when our previous bride, Terin emailed us to let us know her GORGEOUS wedding was featured in The Knot Winter 2011 Special Edition Florida pull out section! We could hardly believe it until we saw the file she attached and also went out and purchased the magazine for ourselves! We are so thrilled to have this wedding featured in the Knot magazine. You can view the insert below with the link provided. It should open up to the page of our wedding but if not, we are on page 30!

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/22532735/Florida%20Insert%20Compiled.pdf

Here is one of my favorite photos from Terin and Jake's wedding that was not published! Thank you for an amazing day full of wonderful memories! We are honored to have been able to take part in your special wedding day.

Much love always!

Cindy Stonehouse

Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book:
Photographer: Foto di Amore
Reception: Renaissance International Hotel
Ceremony: Sacred Heart
Flowers: Redman Steele Floral Design
Cake: L'Artisan Cake Atelier
String Quartet: Dillingham String Quartet
Entertainment: Leonard Brothers Band
Stationary: Not From a Box, Inc.
Linens: Linens by the Sea
Makeup Artist: Colours by Linny
Draping: Quest Drape
Rentals: PKS Rentals
Videographer: Blue Eyed Video
Transportation: Ambassador Limo

You're Engaged! | Best Ways to Announce it!

2012-01-02T08:10:00.000-08:00

Congratulations!! You just got engaged! This is one of the BEST feelings in your life and you can't wait to share the Wonderful news! But wait, there are a few things you will want to keep in mind before you start sharing with everyone.

First, share the news with your parents and/or your children (if you already have kids). You can call them on the phone or if they live far away you can use Skype to tell them about it! If you can hold out for a personal visit, it would be even more joyous and you can have the first toast of many as an engaged couple!

Then, you can start telling everyone! One of the quickest and fastest ways to spread the good news is to create a page on FACEBOOK about your engagement. Once your page is completed, you can send an invitation to all of your friends so they can view it! Of course, your profile picture could be one of the two of you when he proposed or you can have a picture of your engagement ring so all of your friends can see it!

Planner Tip: When you have a moment, try to write down all of the details of how he proposed so you will always remember the day he asked you to marry him and everything he said!

We can't wait to hear all about it! Remember to contact us early and we can help you begin planning the wedding day of your dreams!!

Best Wishes,

Cindy Stonehouse

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!!

2012-01-01T08:12:00.000-08:00

"Now let us welcome the new year,

full of things that have never been."

~ Rainer Maria Rilke

It's exciting today marks the first day of 2012! We hope everyone enjoyed a FABULOUS and SAFE evening bringing in the New Year! We are looking forward to this wonderful year and are honored to be working with some of the most AMAZING couples for 2012! We will be unveiling our new logo and website in the coming weeks and sharing more of our LOVE with weddings! It's going to be a FANTASTIC 2012!

Happy New Year!

Cindy Stonehouse

REAL WEDDING | Mr. and Mrs. Couch

2011-12-28T12:01:00.000-08:00

2011 was a FABULOUS year of weddings for Stonehouse Events! We are so blessed to have been able to share in so many couple's wedding day and thankful for the opportunity to help make their wedding day dreams come true! We have more to post but we are so excited to share Amanda and Mike's wedding because it was our last one of the year! Amanda and Mike were such an AMAZING couple to work with! From the moment, I met Amanda I just loved her! The one word that comes to mind when I think of her is LOVELY. She just exudes it! When I met Mike, I knew they were a perfect pair! He is such a kind and thoughtful man and just perfect for Amanda. Their style was elegant and romantic. With the backdrop of Avila Golf and Country Club, their wedding was sure to be Fabulous! We used a purple and gold palette with touches of bright pink and lots of candles! With their last name being Couch, we were sure to include it in the details! Her table numbers all rested on a couch and their cake topper was a small couch with Mr. & Mrs. sitting on top of it. For her guest book, she selected the Family Tree, where the guests use their thumbprints to make leaves and then sign their name. As a favor, Amanda and Mike handed out Honey jars because they like to call each other Honey. They also received a letter from the President and First Lady congratulating them on their wedding and also a signed photograph from Mickey and Minnie. Her floral arrangements were ABSOLUTELY STUNNING from the bouquet to the centerpieces! Their ceremony was so special and romantic! Josh with Inspire Entertainment kept the guests dancing all night while everyone celebrated Amanda and Mike! It was a WONDERFUL, FLAWLESS day!

Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book
Coordinator/Planner: Stonehouse Events
Photographer: Tina Sargeant Photography
Videographer: Rising Sky Productions
Location for Ceremony and Reception: Avila Golf and Country Club
Cake: Cakes by Nomeda
Entertainment: Inspire Entertainment
Harpist: Jessica Cardwell
Florist: Artistry Design Group
Chair Rentals: Signature Event Rentals
Linens: Connie Duglin
Hair: Mystic Hair Salon
Makeup: Annelis Diaz

A big Thank you to my Amazing Team of Vendors! You helped make their day PERFECT!

Love,

Cindy Stonehouse

SEMI Wishes you Merry Christmas!

2011-12-14T20:23:00.000-08:00

We hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season and getting ready for Christmas with their family and friends. We are so excited for all of our newlyweds getting ready to share their first Christmas married and hope they enjoy this wonderful gathering of family and friends! We are equally excited for all of the new couples who will be getting engaged in the next couple of weeks! We can't wait to hear all about how he proposed! This is truly the MOST wonderful time of the year!

The holiday season is also a great time to begin making plans and goals for the New Year a head! Which is exactly what we have been doing! We will be unveiling our new logo for Stonehouse Events and a new website in January (if everything goes according to plan)! We are also working on some FABULOUS events and weddings beginning in January! Looking forward to a FANTASTIC New Year!

Happy Holidays from Stonehouse Events!

2011

Cindy Stonehouse

REAL WEDDING ~ LORRAINE AND MATT ~ Featured on Style Me Pretty Florida Blog

2011-11-12T20:26:00.000-08:00

Lorraine and Matt got married at the stunning Powel Crosley Estate in Sarasota, Florida and their wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty Florida's blog too! The Powel Crosley in Sarasota, Florida is one of my favorite venues! I just adored Lorraine and Matt and their lovely families! Lorraine had such fabulous taste and I just loved her style! Her guest book was so unique, it was a picture puzzle where the guests signed the individual pieces. So creative! Follow the link below so you can see more of the gorgeous details and photos captured by Carrie Wildes Photography!

http://www.stylemepretty.com/florida-weddings/2011/09/15/powel-crosley-estate-wedding-by-stonehouse-events-more-inc/

Here are some of my favorite photos from the day!

INSIDE THE WEDDING PLANNER'S WHITE BOOK

Here are some of the professionals who helped make their day flawless!

Wedding Planner/Coordinator: Stonehouse Events & More, Inc. (AKA Stonehouse Events)
Photographer: Carrie Wildes Photography
Florals: Redman Steele Florist
Ceremony and Reception location: Powel Crosley Estate, Sarasota, Florida
Entertainment: Inspire Entertainment
Linens: BBJ
Catering: FETE Catering & Ballroom at Polo Grill
Cake: Pasteries by Design
Hair and Makeup: Colours by Linny

Happy Planning!

Cindy Stonehouse

REAL WEDDING ~ Featured on Style Me Pretty ~ Jennifer & George

2011-11-12T19:55:00.000-08:00

We've had an AMAZING year with some of the most GORGEOUS weddings! Finally, we're finally able to share them with you! We are so thankful to each and everyone of our BEAUTIFUL couples and we're so excited to reveal their FABULOUS weddings! Four of our weddings were featured on some well known wedding Blogs such as: Style Me Pretty Florida (2 weddings!), Every Last Detail and Grace Ormonde's Wedding Style Magazine! What a Year!!

The first wedding we are sharing showed up on Style Me Pretty's Florida wedding blog! Jennifer and George were one of my favorite couples! Jennifer's smile could light up any room and George was very handsome too, clearly a Perfect Pair! Their wedding reception took place at the St. Pete Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida. Their wedding ceremony was held at St. Raphael's Catholic Church. The day was full of love and surprises! The bride's mother had several surprises planned for her daughter; it was so fun to witness Jennifer's amazement at every turn! First, the lighting in the room with the bride and groom's monogram on the wall (also known as a Gobo) and one of the last surprises was the horse and buggy that carried them off into the night! The band, Synchronicity kept the party going all night long! The bride and groom said, Eat, Drink and Be Married and they certainly did! We were brought in for the day of and offered additional assistance with the design and decor to help make their day flawless! Here is one of our favorite images of the floor plan we did, THANKS TO LAUREN PAULINE PHOTOGRAPHY!

Here is the link to view more images from this absolutely STUNNING wedding on Style Me Pretty Florida blog:

http://www.stylemepretty.com/florida-weddings/2011/09/08/museum-of-fine-arts-wedding-by-stonehouse-events-more-inc/

INSIDE THE WEDDING PLANNER'S WHITE BOOK

Here are some of the professionals who helped make their day flawless!

Planner/Coordinator: Stonehouse Events & More, Inc. (AKA Stonehouse Events)
Photographer: Lauren Pauline Photography
Florals & Design: Redman Steele Florist
Ceremony Location: St. Raphael Catholic Church
Reception Location: St. Pete Museum of Art
Lighting: Bay Stage Lighting
Entertainment: Praise Band, Meredith Coffman and Synchronicity
Catering & Cake: Olympia Catering
Stationary: Not From a Box
Transportation: Ambassador Limousine
Valet: Courtesy Valet
Candy Table: Bethsabe
Hair & Makeup: J. Con Salon, NaNash and Shirley George

Until the next one!

Cindy Stonehouse

KEY INGREDIENTS TO A SAVE THE DATE!

2011-08-19T13:56:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

The Save the Date is the first introduction to your guests about your upcoming wedding. There are so many fun and creative ways to express yourself with your save the date but you will want to remember to include these key ingredients.

DATE - Naturally, this is one of the most important pieces on the save the date!

SOON TO BE BRIDE and GROOM- Your name and your fiance's name. You will want to include both of your last names as well so everyone knows exactly who is getting married and from what side of the family!

LOCATION - You want to include the city and state. In the event of a destination wedding, your guests will want to know if they need to start thinking of travel arrangements!

WEDDING WEBSITE - This is one of other most important pieces to include on your save the date! The website serves as a great communication tool for your guests throughout the rest of your planning days, so please be sure it is visible! They can visit the site periodically to find nearby hotels you may have arranged for room blocks and your wedding registry plus, hear about your personal LOVE story of how you met and how he proposed. You can include some fun survey's like where you should go on your honeymoon or what song should you play for your first dance. With so many free templates available, it only takes a little bit of time to create a website that is reflective of you two as a couple. One of my favorites is www.mywedding.com, click Free Websites to get started!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST - the famous line, Formal Invitation to Follow!

Best Wishes Always!

Cindy Stonehouse

10 Commandments of Marriage

2011-08-12T06:24:00.000-07:00

I was reading through one of my magazines this morning and came across this piece on What Every Husband Should Know. As a wedding planner, I know how much time it takes to plan a wedding and everything that goes into the wedding day. However, I know that it takes EVERY DAY to keep the marriage going. So I wanted to share this with you and may you always remember, "The 10 Commandments of Marriage".

1. The children come first. If there are no children, your wife comes first.
2. Be kind. A cruel word, once said, cannot be unsaid.
3. Your wife is always the most beautiful woman you've ever seen.
4. Your wife is always the best S*X you've ever had.
5. Everything is your fault. Learn to embrace this.
6. When your wife says "fine", it means she is not happy.
7. Don't seek to change each other, seek to accept each other.
8. Let the past stay in the past. Your marriage is about today and tomorrow.
9. Your wedding anniversary and your wife's birthday are the most important days of the year.
10. Laugh. A lot. Laugh with her. Laugh at yourself.

Enjoy! Best wishes always!

Cindy Stonehouse

As seen in Wedding magazine, June * July 2011

SEMI Planner Pick ~ Mosiacs

2011-07-17T08:27:00.000-07:00

Mosiacs! We LOVE this idea! For a guest book picture frame idea, one of my fabulous brides created this mosiac made up of photos of her, the groom and both of their families. It was a STUNNING piece for all of the guests to enjoy!

Also, thanks to Inside Weddings Summer 2011 magazine, we found Andrew Miller Arts (www.andrewmillerarts.com), who creates these gorgeous mosaics everyday made up of your wedding day photos, baby photos, and more. You can visit his website at: http://andrewmillerarts.com to view more of his spectacular work!

Happy Planning!

Much love,

Cindy

REAL WEDDING ~ Kristy and Bobby

2011-06-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

We have been enjoying a busy wedding season! Unfortunately, we have been a bit behind on sharing some of our favorite details! In February, we had the pleasure of helping Kristy and Bobby create the wedding day of their dreams!

With the casual elegance of the beach, we transformed the outdoor space to an inviting atmosphere for drinks, food and fun! We had a Tiki Bar complete with the couples two signature drinks the Classic Margarita and Coconut Paradise. We had Food Stations for the guests to enjoy as well; keeping with the casual beach feeling. For the guest book, Kristy got black rocks for the guests to sign and place in a decorative container that will later on be displayed in their house. The melodic sounds of the steel drums playing for the ceremony and the cocktail hour just completed the overall feeling.

One of my favorite moments of the wedding were the bridesmaid toasts. They created a story board of how Kristy and Bobby met and their journey toward becoming man and wife. It was super CUTE and everyone really enjoyed it!

Sending Love & Hugs,

Cindy

Thanks to my amazing team of vendors!

My Little White Book

Planner/Coordinator: Stonehouse Events

Photography: Life Long Studios

Videography: Voila Cinematic

Caterer: Catering by Design

Cake: Cakes by Nomeda;

Bar: UDream Events

Flowers: Events in Bloom

Music: Grant Hemond and Associates

Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Music: Joe Braccio, steel drums

Lighting: Tampa Lights

Bamboo Arch: A Tailored Event

Makeup & Hair: Beauty Brought Out

Linens: Connie Duglin

Solutions Bridal Designer House ~ Orlando

2011-05-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to be featured on the Solutions Bridal Designer House, The Bridal Closet blog this week! You can view it on the link below:

http://solutionsbridal.com/blog/?p=5381

Recently, we had the opportunity to visit with Gina Ward at Solutions Bridal Designer House in Orlando, Florida. Gina is such an amazing person and full of knowledge! Her Couture bridal line includes: Kenneth Pool, Rivini, Anne Barge and Badgley Mischka to name a few favorites. For the bridesmaids, they offer Amsale, The Dessy Group and Jim Hjelm, plus a few other fabulous designers. Solutions Bridal also offers gorgeous handcrafted accessories to embellish any collection and customize the dress. What we love about Gina and her company is the intimate atmosphere they created and their philosophy on helping the bride find a perfect dress for her. They take the time with each client to really understand their unique needs and help capture the feelings they are trying to express on their wedding day.

Additionally, for the bride who wants the Royal Treatment, they have created the LUX experience. The salon is reserved exclusively for you and your closest family and friends. They customize the private experience with a personal stylist, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and desserts! What a wonderful way to go Bridal Gown Shopping! This is almost a MUST-HAVE for every bride! Of course, there are a limited number of LUX appointments and the reservation is $300. You can email: gina@solutionsbridal.com to begin customizing your experience!

Please tell Gina we said Hello and that you found on her the Stonehouse Events blog!

Sending love & hugs!

Cindy

Wedding Day for Kelsea and Tyler!

2011-05-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

March 13, 2011

We had the pleasure of helping Kelsea and Tyler plan their wedding day! Kelsea had so many wonderful ideas that she wanted to incorporate into her day to make it personal and special and we couldn't wait to help her bring it all together!

Some of my favorite moments from Kelsea and Tyler's day were some of the more difficult details to put together! We created the perfect moment for Kelsea and Tyler to see each other for the first time before the ceremony. Complete with flowers and candles, Tyler was reading a love note written by Kelsea when suddenly she appeared. It was a very touching moment between the two full of excitement and emotion. Also, Kelsea wrote their LOVE STORY that we lighted with luminaries along the walkway for the guests to read. Another one that I loved...when it ended was the Wishing Lanterns! They were so beautiful after we got them lit (which was not easy!) and set them off into the night sky! It was a true team effort but well worth it in the end! You can view them on the link provided by the photographer: Jason Mize Photography

http://vimeo.com/22916004

Thank you to the AMAZING team of vendors who helped make the day PERFECT!

Coordinator: Stonehouse Events, of course!
Photographer: Jason Mize Photography
DJ: RJ Vida, The Production Crew
Location: Postcard Inn
Florist: Events in Bloom
Photobooth: Snapshoot Photobooth
Videography: No Off Switch

Love & Hugs,

Cindy

The Royal Wedding Starts on Time!

2011-04-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

It is a glorious day for Prince William and Kate Middleton to become husband and wife. Their ceremony was beautiful and I was one of many who actually got up to watch the Royal Wedding at 4:00 a.m. (our time) and 9:00 a.m. (their time). The wedding was set to begin at 11:00 a.m. and the general guests began arriving two hours before the ceremony start time. The biggest thing I noticed was that the bride, Kate Middleton arrived at 11:00 a.m. on the dot and the ceremony started on time!

Starting the ceremony on time is critical. Because of the magnitude of this wedding, guests began to arrive two and three hours ahead of the ceremony start time. Beginning the ceremony on time is very important. Plus, it is polite and respectful to not keep your guests waiting.

This was one of the biggest things I noticed as a wedding planner because everyone had to be given a timeline and had to stick to it. Every car was scheduled to arrive at a certain time and did. Every person involved in the processional had to be dressed and ready at that specific time because waiting was not an option.

As a wedding planner, there are two critical items that I know to be true... every vendor involved with getting the bridal party and parents ready and to the church was a true professional and the timeline was communicated effectively to everyone and they understood that being late was not an option.

So when you are planning your own wedding, please keep this in mind. Do you have a team of professionals on your side helping you and your bridal party be on time? Or do they lack the experience to handle the job in a timely fashion and end up keeping your guests waiting? Because even if you are not having a Royal Wedding, you can still be Fashionably on time just like the Royal Wedding!

Best Wishes to All!

Cindy

Unveiling Our Valentine's Day Surprise!!

2011-02-14T08:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! This is one of my favorite holidays because it is all about LOVE!! We love LOVE and today we are unveiling our Valentine's Day Surprise...

It is a LOVE story
AND it's featured on Grace Ormonde's website!

Click on the link below to see more of their photos from the wedding and read their love story!

Website http://www.weddingstylemagazine.com/real-weddings/jennifer-hsiung-david-shoemaker-making-an-impression

Jennifer Hsiung and David Shoemaker's wedding has been one of my all time favorites for so many reasons! I loved working with them. They are a beautiful couple, not only on the outside but on the inside as well. Meetings with them were always fun because we would end up just laughing! Their ceremony is still one of my favorites because of how intimate and sentimental it was. The reception was a genuine celebration joining these two wonderful families. I loved how David, the groom took the time to address every single guest who attended the wedding with a story or memory of them. It was a beautiful day full of lasting memories, even for me! Jennifer and David are an example of two people who are destined to be together and today, Valentine's Day was the PERFECT day to share their amazing LOVE Story!

We are so thankful for the incredible team of vendors who helped make this day happen. We want to say a special thank you to Brian and Brianna with Divine Light Photography who captured this absolutely AMAZING wedding!

Happy Valentine's Day! We are thankful for all of the LOVE Stories that we have the pleasure to take part in and we look forward to sharing more!

Love and Hugs,

Cindy

Special Thanks to my Fabulous Team of Vendors

Photographer: Divine Light Photography (www.dlweddings.com)
Wedding Planning/Coordinator: us! :)
Venue: Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, FL (www.tampamuseum.org)
Caterer: Mise En Place (www.miseonline.com)
Cake: Chocolate Pi (www.chocpi.com)
Florist: Redman Steele Florist (www.redmansteeleflorist.com)
Décor: Grand Events of Tampa (www.grandevent.com)
Stationary: Paper Presence (www.paper-presence.com)
DJ: DJ Carl (www.djcarl.com)
Videographer: Voila Cinematic (www.voilacinematic.com)
Hair and makeup : Abby Griffith, Mint Hair Lounge

~ HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 ~

2010-12-31T09:09:00.000-08:00

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called, "Opportunity" and its first chapter is New Year's Day. "

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Stonehouse Events wishes you all a safe and Happy New Year!

Sending Love & Hugs,

Cindy

SEMI NEEDS YOUR VOTE!

2010-12-01T12:26:00.000-08:00

I am really excited to announce that I have been named a Rising Star ~ Female Finalist in the 2011 Event Solutions Spotlight Awards. The voting starts today and we would love it if you could take a few minutes and cast your vote for me!

http://www.eventsolutions.com/spotlight_awards/awards_process/voting_2011

Thank you so much for your support! I really appreciate it! It is a tremendous honor for me to have been selected as a finalist!

sending love and hugs,

Cindy

SEMI PLANNER PICK ~ WHY WE LOVE ENGAGEMENT SHOOTS

2010-11-29T07:51:00.000-08:00

SEMI PLANNER PICK ~ ENGAGEMENT SHOOTS

Why do we love engagement shoots? Well if you visit the link below you will see exactly why!

http://jmizephotography.squarespace.com/journal/2010/11/28/kelsea-tyler-engaged-a-day-in-their-lives.html

Jason Mize Photography captured our bride and groom-to-be beautifully! Jason we just LOVE these photos of Kelsea and Tyler!

MY TOP 5 REASONS COUPLES SHOULD HAVE THEIR

ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS DONE:

1. Engagement Shoots are a great way for a couple to see how they are going to interact with their photographer and see how comfortable they are with him/her. When the couple is comfortable they are free to be themselves and the photographer is able to capture those real moments!

2. When is there any other time in your life you will have photos taken by a professional on location. This is NOT something we tend to do on an everyday basis, so when you have this opportunity you will have photos that will last a lifetime!

3. These engagement photos can decorate your house and act as everyday reminders of the LOVE you two share.

4. It's FUN! Look how much fun Kelsea and Tyler are having! Pillow fight! Complete with feathers!!

5. This is one of those times when it is all about you and your fiance. The wedding day is full of family and friends but your engagement shoot is only about you as a couple and the love you share. We think that is the BEST reason of all!

Thank you Jason Mize Photography (http://www.jmizephotography.com) for capturing our clients, Kelsea and Tyler! We can't wait for the wedding in March! It's going to be AMAZING!!

sending love and hugs,

Cindy

xoxo

Happy Holidays 2010

2010-11-27T14:33:00.001-08:00

Good Tidings Lavender Holiday Card

Make a statement with custom holiday cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

SEMI WISHES YOU ALL THE BEST FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

2010-11-27T14:28:00.000-08:00

We wish you all of the BEST this holiday season and always!

Thank you for your continued support of Stonehouse Events!

You can view our holiday card on the post above. :)

sending love and hugs,

Cindy Stonehouse

xoxo

SEMI Rave Reviews!

2010-10-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

I love working with all of my brides! It means so much to me to be able to be apart of your wedding day because it is all about LOVE! One of the highlights of my day are when my bride and groom are more than pleased with their day and see how much I have helped them. I had to share this recent thank you note from one of my Mother of the Bride's.

Cindy,

There is no way I can let you know how much you meant to us throughout this process. One of our guests is a wedding planner and she raved about everything and how it was one of the prettiest weddings she had ever been to. Everyone thought the reception was over the top and it really was just everything we dreamed of. I don’t know how you pulled it all off but we were so thrilled with the results. Considering all we went through with Bob’s dad just a couple of weeks before the wedding, and how you just jumped in and did it all for us, I am just thrilled with the results.

Thanks again for everything!! We loved it and YOU!!!!

Debbie Tillman
Your 25th Hour, LLC
770-820-5901
www.Your25thHour.com

RSVP for Crate&Barrel Wedding Party Events This Weekend

2010-10-12T04:45:00.000-07:00

Visit the link below and enjoy planning your new home!

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/Gift-Registry/Events.aspx

SEMI PLANNER PICK ~ Gorgeous Wedding Shoes

2010-09-19T10:31:00.000-07:00

If you are searching for the perfect wedding shoe for you and your bridesmaids, visit WeddingFeet.com, an online wedding shoe resource. With hundreds of styles to choose from, you can easily navigate through the website by heel size, color or style. It is a super user friendly site with LOTS of GORGEOUS wedding shoes! Have fun shoe shopping!

www.WeddingFeet.com

Sincerely,

Cindy

SEMI PLANNER TIPS ~ Meeting with your Florist? Ask yourself these questions first!

2010-09-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

Must-Ask Questions to Ask (Yourself) before Hiring a Florist

When you are ready to sit down and meet with your florist, you may be thinking what questions should I ask the florist before I hire them. However, I am going to tell you what you should be asking yourself before you sit down with your florist. There are some key elements that you should be thinking about that will affect the overall feeling you are trying to create for your wedding day. You will be flooded with ideas and exciting things that you will want to share with your florist. But if you invest a little time before your meeting, it will be more productive and you will walk away feeling like you created exactly what you wanted for your wedding day. Here are SEMI's Must-Ask Questions to ask yourself before hiring a florist:

How do I want my wedding to look and feel? You will want to have a few words picked out to describe the overall feeling of how you want your wedding day to feel because your flower selections will depend on the mood you are trying to create. For example, a more traditional wedding will most certainly have roses where a more modern chic wedding will have more calla lilies and orchids.

What type of flowers do I love? By asking yourself what flowers do you love, only means to take notice of the types of flowers you like. Naturally, we don’t expect you to know the names of all of the flowers, your florist can help you with that. If you take a few moments to clip magazines or browse the internet for photos of flowers that stand out the most to you this will help your florist have a better understanding of your style and tastes. Which ultimately will help bring you one step closer to creating the wedding you always envisioned or just begun!

What colors do I see for my flowers? Do you like bright bold colors for a bridal bouquet or soft pale colors for your flowers? When selecting the colors for your flowers, your florist will be able to show you flowers in your colors that are available and in season at that time of year. Plus, your color choices reflect the overall look and feel for your wedding, which goes back to the question how do you want your wedding to look and feel for the day?

How many people in my bridal party and family members will need flowers on the day of the wedding? When you sit down with your florist, this is one of the beginning questions they will ask you. You will need your bridal bouquet, bridesmaids bouquets, flower girls, ring-bearers, groomsmen boutonnieres, groom’s boutonniere, flowers for parents, step parents, grandparents, god parents, officiant and any other members of the family that you may want to honor with flowers. This is important because this number can greatly affect the cost of the flowers.

What type of bouquet do you want for your wedding? When we ask what type of bouquet do you want for your wedding, we want to know do you like a hand-tied round bouquet, a cascade of flowers or a pomander (kissing ball)? The florist will want to know what type of wedding dress you are wearing so that your flowers will compliment your dress and not take away from the beauty of it.

How much do you want to spend? This is a critical question because this number will affect what your florist can do for you realistically. Because flowers are such a significant part of your wedding day, we recommend that you spend at least eight to ten percent of your budget on flowers. They will be seen in many photographs and enjoyed by all of your guests. Plus, you can take them with you at the end of the day. :)

Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book

2010-08-04T18:42:00.000-07:00

This week for Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book, I am happy to feature Paper Presence. Paper Presence specializes in custom, one-of-a-kind invitations and announcements that help capture the spirit and personality of your special event. Andrea McMahon is the owner and creative force behind Paper Presence. She does a great job capturing the essence of your event from concept to creation. Andrea's designs are all custom, unique, and tailored specifically to your style, inspiration, and budget. They approach each new design with one goal - to make your wedding or event as unique as you! Find out more about Andrea by reading below!

What do you love most about weddings? The "it's you and me" moment: that moment when you know, to your core that you are going to love and be loved for the rest of your life.

How do you continue to challenge yourself in this industry? By feeling the fear, and doing it anyway. Whatever “it” may be at the time, I never want to be so afraid of something, failure OR success, so much that is keeps me from excelling in what I have found to be my professional passion.

What do you think is the most important thing each couple that works with you needs to know? I love what I do. I am blessed to call this my “job” and I work incredibly hard to make each design special, unique and true to my clients’ personalities.

The famous Bernard Pivot questionnaire:

1. What is your favorite word? Gravy J My husband and I share this nickname.
2. What is your least favorite word? It’s two words actually…World War. I can’t say them together without slowing down first, and then of course war just stinks.
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Living with all 5 senses. I was introduced to this concept by an industry icon, and there is nothing more motivating and inspiring than experiencing everything around you in every way possible.
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Pessimists
5. What sound or noise do you love? Children laughing
6. What sound or noise do you hate? People screaming at each other
7. What is your favorite curse word? I don’t have a favorite. I dislike them all and would wash my mouth out with soap if it really worked. LOL
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I’d like to own one of those posh doggy daycare places. J But right now, I don’t want to be doing anything else. I love my profession immensely.
9. What profession would you not like to do? Anything with blood. Ick.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Heaven does exist, and I hope to hear God say, “Here are your wings.”

You can find out more about Paper Presence at www.paper-presence.com!

Real Wedding ~ Kelley and Nick Charnas

2010-07-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

We love helping all of our brides and grooms plan the wedding day of their dreams! We recently had the pleasure of working with Kelley and Nick on their nautical themed wedding at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Florida!

But what do you do when it rains on your wedding day and you are all set for an outside beach ceremony? You have to go with Plan B! You can view the slideshow of their wedding day, that despite the stormy weather, was still a day full of LOVE and ROMANCE!

http://www.jerrymcgaghey.com/Charnas

Our Little White Book ~ A big "Thank you" to all of our amazing vendors!

Wedding Planner: Me! Stonehouse Events & More, Inc.

Photographer: Jerry McGaghey Photography

Florist: Events in Bloom

DJ: Inspire Entertainment

Entertainment: Photo Lounge

Venue: Sheraton Sand Key Resort

Transportation: Ambassador Limousines

Linens: Connie Duglin Linens

SEMI ~ Planner Pick!

2010-07-10T19:11:00.000-07:00

We have been researching some new ideas and came across this great twist on the Photo Booth! We found this site, www.koyalwholesale.com, where you can purchase, for a reasonable price, a personalized backdrop for your wedding photo booth! We think this is a great idea and another FABULOUS way to personalize your wedding day! :)

~ Cindy

Wedding Photo Booth Backdrops!

Wedding Photo Backdrops coming soon to Koyal Wholesale. We will have six new personalized wedding photo booth backdrops available by Monday, May 3, 2010. At only $89.99 each and including FREE personalization, our fun wedding photo backdrops are sure to be the hit of your bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, or wedding reception. Great creative, and let your guests let loose in front your names and wedding date.

The Wedding Photo Booth Backdrop comes in 6 unique designs and may be personalized with names and numeric date in the following colors (you choose): cloud, aqua, sage, wisteria, petal pink, raspberry, wineberry, plum, claret, tangerine, chocolate, grey or black. This is all included in the price, no additional cost! PERSONALIZATION IS FREE!

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Nosworthy!

2010-06-27T18:28:00.000-07:00

March 27, 2010

Brooke and James began the first day of their lives saying their vows with the gorgeous backdrop of the Powell Crosley Estate in Sarasota, Florida. With amazing food presented by Olympia Catering and wonderful music provided by Inspire Entertainment, Brooke and James shared their wedding day in an intimate setting with their family and friends. To celebrate the lives of those who were not able to be present, Brooke honored them with a photo above the fireplace in the main room. It was a beautiful sentiment. Olympia Catering created a gorgeous candy table display for the guests enjoyment and as a thank you for sharing in their day. Everything was just perfect! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of it!

The Little White Book

Day of Coordinator: Us, of course! :)

Caterer: Olympia Catering

Entertainment: Inspire Entertainment

Photography: Becky Johnson Studios

Flowers: Beneva Flowers

Officiant: David Wildes

Hair and Makeup: Beauty Brought Out

One of our brides featured!

2010-06-11T18:55:00.001-07:00

One of our recent couples had a story written about them in the St. Pete Times Tampa Edition newspaper today! This is one wedding that we can't wait to share! Enjoy the sneak peek about this amazing couple, Jennifer Hsiung and David Shoemaker by cutting and pasting the link below!

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/love-set-match-in-beijing-for-tampa-wedding/1100923

Or, you can follow the photographers Divine Light Weddings, link to view it at:

Jennifer & David's Wedding Featured in The St. Petersburg Times/www.TampaBay.com!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~ Cindy

FIND SEMI ON THE DIRECTOR'S CHAIR NEWSLETTER!

2010-06-03T06:50:00.001-07:00

We were recently featured on Tampa Wonderworks newsletters, The Director's Chair! We have worked with Bryan and Tracey on several weddings. We have witnessed our clients joy from being able to watch their wedding day through the eyes of the very creative and talented team of Bryan and Tracey. They are both so passionate about what they do and capturing the day of their couples. Videography is so important to preserve the memory of the day and witness the love surrounding them by their family and friends after the wedding day has come and gone. Thank you to Bryan and Tracey for mentioning Stonehouse Events & More, Inc.! You guys are AWESOME at what you do and we are honored to be able to work with you both! :)

Check out the link below (you may have to cut and paste) to read their newsletter and see what they had to say about SEMI!

http://mim.io/3ba04

10 Wedding Blunders to Avoid

2010-05-22T04:41:00.000-07:00

We wanted to share this link with you because it has some very valuable information. Your wedding day only comes once in a lifetime, try to avoid these blunders so your day can be all it was meant to be, just fabulous!

http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/article.aspx?cp-documentid=23719391&GT1=32023

Please copy and past the above link to view. Thanks!

GRACE ORMONDE IN SARASOTA!

2010-05-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

We had the rare privilege to meet the amazing Grace Ormonde, May 10 at her exclusive book signing party at the GORGEOUS Ritz Carlton in Sarasota! It was an absolutely stunning event designed by some of our friends in the industry; the wonderful Sarah Fairburn with One Fine Day, Inc. and the extremely talented Ian Prosser with Botanica International Design Studio. Our good friend, Josh Walther with Inspire Entertainment provided the entertainment with his incredible band, Phase 5 and Ryan Joseph, one of our favorite photographers provided all of the photography for the evening. We were so thrilled to be a part of this spectacular event! Her book is filled with some of the most inspirational weddings ever and I absolutely love the title, "Being in love never goes out of style"! And with Grace on it's side it never will!

Lots of love and success! Cindy

http://www.weddingstylemagazine.com/book/?p=290!

We were excited to be in one of the photos that made it to her blog! Copy and paste the link listed above to view more of the photos!

Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book

2010-05-03T06:59:00.001-07:00

We are happy to feature the amazing husband and wife team Carrie Wildes Photography and David Wildes, Officiant for this week's "Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book". Carrie is a top notch photographer who loves to photograph couple's on one of their most precious days and David likes to be the one who makes the wedding day by officiating the ceremony. Carrie is driven to capture the spirit and emotions of the people she photographs. She is constantly challenging herself to improve her artistry and daring to be different! David's philosophy is to sit down with his couple and get to know them so he can design a ceremony based on their wishes and desires. David strives to provide a unique and custom experience to each and every wedding he has the pleasure to officiate. Enjoy learning more about this beautiful couple!

What do you love most about weddings?

Carrie ~ I love getting to know each couple and capturing all the details and people on one of the best days of their lives! The day goes by so quickly and the bride and groom are entrusting me to allow them to relive all the details, family, friends, and emotions. How great is that?

David ~ I love that I’m with people at the beginning of their journey together. In most of my weddings I say that marriage isn’t the destination, it’s the beginning. To be a part of the day that they will remember for the rest of their lives is inspiring and humbling at the same time.

How do you continue to challenge yourself in this industry?

Carrie ~ Keeping it unique and fresh is what I always strive to do. For me, it's a constant learning and growing process to become both technically and artistically better. Before each wedding I spend some time getting inspiration from several other really amazing photographers that I follow.

David ~ For me it’s making sure with each new couple that I spend the time to make their wedding ceremony unique and special. Each couple is different with varying pasts and values and I want that reflected in their ceremony.

What do you think is the most important thing each couple that works with you needs to know?

Carrie ~ That I am so blessed to be doing what I love! I treat every wedding as an honor and responsibility that the couple is entrusting me with and will do everything I can to make it the best day of their lives!

David ~ That I’m here for them. I don’t give them an A., B., and C., wedding ceremony and make them choose. I will work with them to personalize the ceremony so that it’s a reflection of their relationship and wishes.

The Famous Bernard Pivot's Questionnaire:

1. What is your favorite word?

Carrie ~ Touche, it just sounds cool:-)

David ~ Yes

2. What is your least favorite word?

Carrie ~ can't

David ~ No

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

Carrie ~ When I know someone trusts and respects me

David ~ Seeing God in the everyday. Not only did He create the large and marvelous like the universe, the earth and the sun and stars, but he also gave flowers their smell, humans laughter and personality and awesome sights like a sunset. He’s constantly making Himself aware to us.

4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

Carrie ~ negativity

David ~ Unbridled independence. We are dependent upon God and each other. That’s another reason I love weddings, it’s a person admitting they are better off in this world with someone than alone.

5. What sound or noise do you love?

Carrie ~ pouring rain at night

David ~ laughter

6. What sound or noise do you hate?

Carrie ~ screaming

David ~ A plastic spoon rubbing the inside of Styrofoam cup . . . I’m getting chills just thinking about it.

7. What is your favorite curse word?

Carrie ~ Piddlejacking - it's not really a curse word, but makes people think about if it is when they hear it:-)

David ~ My wife will tell that when I let anger get the best of me I choose from a variety of different curse words.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Carrie ~ Hosting a show on the travel channel or helping companies implement social media

David ~ I don’t know, probably something where I go scuba diving all the time and to sporting events while getting paid lots of money.
9. What profession would you not like to do?

Carrie ~ Teach elementary school

David ~ Work for the IRS or pretty much anything on “Dirty Jobs”.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

Carrie ~ I believe it does and I would like to hear "well done my good and faithful servant"

David ~ Heaven does exist and I would love to hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into my rest.”

You can find out more about Carrie Wildes Photography at www.carriewildes.com and David Wildes at www.davidwildes.com/#

Many Happenings!

2010-04-28T06:40:00.000-07:00

We have been so busy these last couple months with our weddings that we have not been able to blog about all of our wonderful weddings!! We have planned the very FIRST wedding at the new Tampa Museum of Art, we had our first wedding at the Powell Crosley Estate in Sarasota and a beautiful nautical themed wedding at the Sheraton Sand Key!!

Please check back for more details on these amazing weddings and photos!

Thank you for visiting Stonehouse Events & More, Inc. Blog! :)

Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book

2010-04-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

This week's "Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book", we are highlighting a very talented DJ, DJ Carl based in Orlando Florida. We had the pleasure of working with him at a recent wedding at the Tampa Museum of Art. Carl is an absolute professional and arrives very well prepared for his weddings. His genuine love for music has allowed him to utilize his passion to master the complex art of positively influencing a group of people through his programming because, he truly understands academically, as well as emotionally how music affects the overall tone and success of any event! DJ Carl is one of the most sought after and trusted professional DJ's in the industry and he has earned both national recognition and awards for his experience. Enjoy learning a little more about him by reading our questionnaire below!

What do you love most about weddings? I love providing high-end professional DJ services for weddings that focus on energy, emotions and positive experiences.

How do you continue to challenge yourself in this industry? I am trying to convince big wedding planners that they can have a DJ without a band at a big high-profile wedding.

What do you think is the most important thing each couple that works with you needs to know? Each couple needs to know that I can technically-mix all genres of music for all types of people, articulate their messages on the microphone and I pay close attention to the details of the wedding.

The famous Bernard Pivot questionnaire:

What is your favorite word? balance
What is your least favorite word? profanity
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? open-minded people
What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? close-minded people
What sound or noise do you love? violins
What sound or noise do you hate? loud noises
What is your favorite curse word? none
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Online Content Editor
What profession would you not like to do? dance performer
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? You are a hard worker

You can find out more about DJ Carl at www.djcarl.com!

SEMI Planner Tips ~ 6 Ways to Personalize Your Wedding Day

2010-03-14T12:48:00.000-07:00

We love telling your story on your wedding day and we highly encourage our couples to personalize their day. Follow the link below to find 6 creative ways that you can personalize your wedding day!

http://www.instyleweddings.com/weddings/gallery/0,,20165358_20379631,00.html

The Knot Florida Spring 2010

2010-03-06T18:46:00.001-08:00

You can find us on page 34 of this current edition of The Knot Florida Spring 2010! We are sharing some of our best secrets for hosting your wedding in Florida!

Brides Florida Magazine ~ We've Been Published!

2010-03-06T18:30:00.000-08:00

We are super excited to be published again in the current Bride's Florida Spring 2010 magazine! You can find us on page 234 offering creative ceremony ideas to enhance your special day!

LOCAL HAPPENINGS ~ 3rd Annual Bridal Show at Davis Island Garden Club

2010-02-18T19:46:00.000-08:00

Davis Island Garden Club is hosting its 3rd Annual Bridal Show on Sunday, February 28, 2010 from noon to 4 p.m.! Come visit this amazing group of Upscale Vendors and find out what we can do for your wedding day! This is one bridal show you will not want to miss!

For more information you can visit the Davis Island Garden Club website at www.digclub.org We look forward to seeing you there! :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T14:53:00.000-08:00

We just LOVE Valentine's Day and want to wish everyone of you a very Happy Valentine's Day!

Naturally when we think of Valentines Day, we think of weddings! We wanted to share a poem that we think is just perfect as a reading during your ceremony. It's titled "What is a Soul Mate?" and it is written by Emily Matthews.

What is a Soul Mate?

If you have found a smile that is the sweetest one you've known,
If you have heard, within a voice, the echoes of your own,
If you have felt a touch, that stirs the longings of your heart,
And still can feel that closeness in the moments your apart,
If you have filled with wonder at the way two lives can blend
to weave a perfect pattern that is seamless, end to end,
If you believe some things in life are simply meant to be,
Then you have found your soul mate, your hearts own destiny.

Happy Valentine's Day...

SEMI Planner Pick ~ Justine M Couture

2010-02-13T17:15:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for a website that offers Gorgeous bridal accessories, look no further than Justine M Couture. They offer tiaras, hair ornaments, brooches, veils, bridal belts, and so much more! They can even custom design your order! Visit their website at www.justinemcouture.com for more information and to view their gallery! You won't be disappointed!

Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book

2010-02-12T06:38:00.000-08:00

Okay so we have been a little behind on our "Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book" but, this week we are back to feature Phillip Lloyd from Phillip Lloyd Photography. We just love Phillip as a person and photographer. His work speaks for itself and you may have already seen it in several publications like The Knot, Brides Florida and most recently Weddings Unveiled. Phillip's love of photography is apparent in every photo he captures. When a photograph has the ability to speak to you and stir up your emotions, then you know you have been touched by an artist. Phillip is a true artist! Enjoy learning more about the man behind the artist!

What do you love most about weddings? The chance to come up with something cool for every wedding.

How do you continue to challenge yourself in this industry? I'm never satisfied with my work.

What do you think is the most important thing each couple that works with you needs to know? Have fun.

The Famous Bernard Pivot Questionnaire:

1. What is your favorite word? Man!!!!
2. What is your least favorite word? Like!!!! Like my wife and daughter say all of the time!! Grrrrrr!!!!
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Honesty
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Lies and people who intentionally hurt others.
5. What sound or noise do you love? Myles
6. What sound or noise do you hate? When Myles cries.
7. What is your favorite curse word? The "F" Bomb!!
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Lawyer
9. What profession would you not like to do? Police officer…I discovered this after the psychological test they put me through. lol
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? You made a difference.

You can view more of Phillip's work at www.philliplloydphotography.com!

Real Wedding Video Highlight ~ Jennifer and John

2010-02-05T19:40:00.000-08:00

We are so thrilled to share with you the Real Wedding Video Highlight of Jennifer and John's INCREDIBLE wedding day from our last wedding of 2009! We are so thankful to our friends at Tampa Wonderworks for sharing this link with us. Great job Bryan and Tracey for capturing the magical moments of this Amazing day of Love!

http://www.tampawonderworks.com/theblog/2010/01/25/jennifer-john-real-wedding-highlights/

Tampa Wonderworks - www.tampawonderworks.com

SEMI Planner Tips ~ Best Way to Save for your Wedding

2010-02-03T06:42:00.000-08:00

In this economy, everyone is looking for ways to save. But when you are getting married, it can seem like a daunting task. We received this from Real Simple Weddings and thought we would share it with all of you because it is great information!

Whether you’re planning a small wedding for friends and family or a raucous reception 600 guests strong, you’ll need the bucks to back up your bottom line. Start squirreling away money for your wedding now. Open a savings account with an online bank that pays high interest rates, like ING Direct. Because these banks don’t have a lot of overhead, they let you automatically transfer money out of your checking account and into a linked savings account with no fees. Ideally, arrange to have 10 to 20 percent of each paycheck deposited into this account, beginning at least a year before your wedding date.

Please remember to check back again because we will be continuing to share tips on how to stretch your wedding budget dollars!

Final Wedding of 2009 ~ Mr. and Mrs. John Langmaack

2010-01-22T18:28:00.000-08:00

We are super excited for our couple who celebrated their wedding day on Saturday, December 12, 2009. This was our final wedding of the year and it was such a FABULOUS day! Jennifer and John are such an amazing couple and we were so happy to share their day.

The ceremony and reception were held at the Bayanihan Arts Center; where the room was all a glow with gorgeous draping and lighting. Jerry McGaghey Photography captured the day and all of the special moments that followed PERFECTLY. The couple hired a photobooth for the reception, where guests enjoyed putting on props and getting their pictures taken for a scrapbook that was being prepared as a gift to the Bride and Groom for the end of the night. The guests just loved it! The Bride and Groom shared their first dance to Keith Urban's, "Only You Can Love Me This Way". The bride was absolutely stunning in her custom made gown. Their wedding cake was delicious and cheesecake! Their reception was GORGEOUS with pintuck linens and artistic floral centerpieces. The bride loved Calla Lilies so naturally we had 3 unique centerpieces for the different tables. One centerpiece was curly willow branches draped with Mokara Orchids, another was a bowl with Calla Lilies and curly willow wrapped around a floating candle and the final centerpiece consisted of 3 different sized cylinders with submerged Calla Lilies and orchids. They were just beautiful! The day was a joyous celebration uniting these 2 families. We were so thankful for the opportunity to share this amazing day with them!

We can't wait to share the highlight reel of the day! Remember to check back soon!

Thanks to our team of vendors who made the day extra FABULOUS! We couldn't have done it without you! :)

The Little White Book

Planning and Coordination: Stonehouse Events & More, of course!

Venue: Bayanihan Arts Center

Photographer: Jerry McGaghey Photography

Videography: Tampa Wonderworks

Catering: Delectables Fine Catering

Cake: LeCheesecake

Florals: Cheral Floral Studio

Photobooth: Serendipity Photobooth

Entertainment: Inspire Entertainment

Linens: Connie Duglin Linens

String Quartet: Rosewood String Quartet

Transportation: Skyline Limo

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

2010-01-22T11:58:00.000-08:00

Many of you know about the tragedy that struck Haiti just last week. Unfortunately, one of our previous brides lost 3 of her cousins and 2 of her aunts lost their homes as a result of the earthquake. As many people are waking up without their homes and lost loved ones, they need our help. If everyone made a small donation, think of how many people will benefit by that. The power of many can move mountains. Please follow the link below and make a donation to the American Red Cross. They need all of our help and compassion even in these hard economic times. Thank you and God Bless...

http://www.redcross.org/

Isabella's Ball "A Winter Wonderland" ~ December 6, 2010

2010-01-22T06:02:00.000-08:00

Isabella's Ball, "A Winter Wonderland" was an amazing event that we were invited to participate in with our fellow planners, Confetti Events and Weddings. We had such an experience putting together this event for Isabella's milestone birthday party!

Isabella turned 5 on this milestone birthday. She was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, weighs 17 pounds and is 25 inches in height. Isabella has spent much of her life in Shriners Hospital. Unable to walk, she is thankful to have received her first power chair to enable a sense of mobility. She receives an IV treatment every 4 months, lasting for 3 days that costs $850. The medication is completely paid for by Shriners Hospital. Her first birthday was spent in a coma at the hospital. She has spent the years following in the hospital on her special day. This was truly a milestone birthday celebration for Isabella and her family, as they witnessed her turning 5 for the first time outside of the hospital. Isabella’s wish was that in lieu of gifts, people made donations to OI Foundation and Shriners Hospital so that other children who share her disease receive the same wonderful treatment.

Osteogenesis Imperfecta, known as “brittle bone disease”, affects 20,000 to 50,000 people in the United States. OI often causes the person to have muscle weakness, hearing loss, scoliosis, blue sclera, fatigue, and short stature. People severely affected by OI also have Restrictive pulmonary disease. To find out more about OI Foundation or make a donation to this worthwhile cause, please visit http://www.oif.org/.

We were so honored to be a part of this incredible team of vendors who made this day memorable for Isabella and her family. We had an over the top birthday cake provided by "A Piece of Cake", yummy gourmet food and tons of fun activities like face painting, a ballon artist, a clown, and a magician. A special thanks to Party Theme Decorators, who completed our vision for Isabella's Winter Wonderland. It was such an amazing day that left everyone feeling very blessed. :)

The Little White Book:

Planning and coordination: Confetti Events & Weddings, Occasions and Stonehouse Events & More, Inc.

Photography: K&K Photography

Videography: Voila Cinematic

Invitations and Stationary: Not From a Box and Confetti Events

Music Entertainment: Grant Hemond and Associates, Inc. ~ Cory Barron

Cake; A Piece of Cake

Catering: Chives Catering

Florals: Cheral Florals

Linens: Linens by the Sea and Connie Duglin

Party Decor: Party Theme Decorators

Draping: MMD Events

We've been selected for the 2010 Brides Choice Awards from Wedding Wire!!!

2010-01-19T19:26:00.000-08:00

We are excited to announce that StoneHouse Events & More, Inc. has been chosen to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards^™ 2010. This award recognizes the top 5 percent of local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service and professionalism.

We are so thankful and honored to have been selected for the Bride's Choice Awards! We absolutely love each and every client we get the privilege to work with. Thank you for choosing Stonehouse Events & More, Inc. for the 2010 Brides Choice Awards!

WE LOVE THE NEWLY WED MR. AND MRS. DUCATEL!!!

2010-01-16T19:28:00.000-08:00

November 21, 2009

Click on the link below to view this most amazing day for Martha and Watson as seen through the eyes of Phillip Lloyd, their incredible photographer! :)

http://philliplphoto.blogspot.com/2009/12/martha-watson.html

We had the absolute pleasure of working with two of the most amazing individuals, Martha and Watson. When we first met, I just fell in love with them because they were such a special couple. I am so thankful that they selected me to help bring their wedding dreams to life!

Their wedding was an absolute day full of love and romance! There were flowers and candles everywhere! Martha loved pink and purple and we managed to pull together the most beautiful pink and purple wedding of all time! The ceremony began in front of a gorgeous backdrop of orchids and crystals draping behind them. Martha was welcomed with an aisle full of candles and petals. As the two of them spoke their own written vows to each other, you could just feel the love between these two soul mates. As guests entered the cocktail hour, they were welcomed by the MARSONTINI, which was the signature drink of the evening and delicious passed hors d'oeuvres provided by Olympia Catering. As the introductions began into the reception, the bridal party danced in to the sounds of "Let's Groove Tonight" by Earth, Wind and Fire; which set the stage for the events that followed! Martha and Watson entered grooving on to the dance floor to the beat of "Before I Let Go" by artist Frankly and Beverly and Maze. They continued grooving into their first dance to a choreographed upbeat routine then slowing it down to Luther Vandroos' "So Amazing", which is exactly how we describe this couple!

Everyone enjoyed dinner and dancing the whole night long! It was definitely a day to always remember full of love, passion and romance! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Ducatel! We wish you all of the happiness you both deserve! Thank you for sharing one of the most important days with us! :)

We can't wait to show you the highlight reel from Voila Cinematic, the videographers, who captured the live emotion of the day! Check back soon!

There were so many people who added to the beauty of this day and we couldn't thank them enough for all of their hard work to make this wedding what it was.

The Little White Book

Wedding planning and coordination: Why us, of course!

Venue: Palmetto Club

Photographer: Phillip Lloyd Photography

Videographer: Voila Cinematic

Caterer: Olympia Catering

Cake: Cakes by Nomeda

Florals: Events in Bloom

Lighting: Inspire Entertainment

Draping: Quest Drape

DJ: Universal Music Entertainment

Transportation: Ambassador Limo

Invitations: Not From a Box, Inc.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!!!!

2010-01-16T19:16:00.000-08:00

We are so excited that it is 2010! 2009 was an incredible year and we are looking forward to another FABULOUS year ahead! 2010 has already kicked off into high gear and we are so thankful and blessed for all of the couples we have the opportunity to share their most precious day with. You are all so wonderful and we love to be a part of your life at this magical moment.

As you can see, we have been absent from the last 2 months on our blog. Of course for good reasons, we have been so incredibly busy with weddings! We have some absolutely GORGEOUS weddings and events that we completed in the last 2 months of 2009 that we can't wait to share with you!!!

Have a wonderful 2010! We look forward to a FABULOUS year ahead!!!

REAL WEDDING ~ Kara and Kevin

2009-11-13T18:26:00.000-08:00

Mr and Mrs. Floyd (that's me in the background)

The new Mr. and Mrs. Kara and Kevin Floyd celebrated their wedding day on Halloween, October 31, 2009. We were so happy to be a part of this amazing day full of surprises! Kara and Kevin enjoyed every little detail they created and it was incredible to see everything come together in the end. The couple had a beautiful church ceremony where the groom and his groomsmen entered the church to the sounds of Darth Vader's music and exited to the Beatles, "All You Need is Love". The Spartan Manor was decked out in festive Halloween decor that by the time the guests entered the ballroom it looked like an elegant haunted mansion. As the introductions were underway, each pair of the bridal party came out dancing to their own choregraphed routine. While Kara and Kevin were introduced to the theme music from, "Indiana Jones". Kevin even wore Indy's hat and Kara cracked the infamous whip! It was a great moment! The reception was full of fun and excitement! At cake cutting time, Kevin got to use his Freddy claws to cut the beautiful cake and feed Kara. Kevin's groom's cake was the mask of Jason from Friday the 13th. There were skeletons, vampires and carved pumpkins around the room and everyone had a blast dancing all night long. Another special moment was when Kara and her dad danced; they thru in a little surprise routine that was completely priceless! Being a part of this day for Kara and Kevin was so special. Their friends and family were all present to support them and the Best Man and Maid of Honor presented two heartfelt toasts about Kara and Kevin. To witness the love of these two individuals and see the love from their family and friends is what makes my job so completely satisfying. I am honored to have been a part of your day and wish you both much love forever and always.

You can view more preview photos at Waking Hours Photography blog at: http://wakinghoursphotography.blogspot.com/2009/11/kevin-and-kara.html

The Little White Book
Day of Wedding Coordinator: Us, of course!

Photographer: Waking Hours Photography

Videography: Tampa Wonderworks

Venue and Catering: Spartan Manor

Music: Grant Hemond and Associates

Flowers: Ibritz Flowers

Cake: Publix

Transportation: Olympus Limo

Hair and Makeup: Kylelynn Cosmetics

Happy November!

2009-11-13T18:21:00.001-08:00

Happy November! We have been so busy these last couple of weeks, we haven't even had the chance to write about everything! We have been preparing for our next upcoming wedding and we are so excited about it! We have some FABULOUS designs that we can't wait to showcase and an amazing team of vendors! It is going to be AMAZING! Check back again soon!

TRENDS & STYLE ~ Inspirational Vision Boards

2009-11-13T18:14:00.001-08:00

We love the richness of these colors (black with deep burgundy with touches of gold) and the overall appearance at this wedding from Seattle, Washington. Love the two hanging light fixtures and the Bride's Bouquet is GORGEOUS! What a FABULOUS wedding!

Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book

2009-10-28T08:17:00.000-07:00

Amy ~ Britta (1st girl on the left)

This week for "Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book" we are featuring Not From a Box. Not From a Box, Inc. is the exclusive online destination for unique, stylish invitations. Amy and Britta take the time to hear your likes and dislikes about invitations and what you envision for your day. Then they work from there to create your custom designed wedding invitations, mitzvah invitations, Quinceanera invitations, Sweet 16 party invitations, and invitations for corporate and charity events. We know how important it is to have just the right invitation because this is the first introduction to your wedding or event. Not From a Box's designs get your guests excited to come to your wedding or event just from the uniqueness of the invitation. Because their invitations are not mass-produced, they have the freedom to design for each client based on their specific colors, event style and budget. That means that every one of their clients receives a custom-designed invitation package, one-on-one collaboration with graphic designers and event professionals, and ultimately, stylish one-of-a-kind invitations. Find out more about these two great ladies, who know how to make your day stand out from the rest!

What do you love most about weddings? BRITTA - I love the purpose of a wedding. The bringing of two families together for a celebration of love, hope and the future. AMY - I love the tradition of it. I love that so many people, over the course of thousands of years, have recited and pledged their love and devotion in the same ways, and in the same words as their ancestors and people of their same beliefs and religions. And regardless of what religion, it’s all about pledging love and devotion to each another.

How do you continue to challenge yourself in this industry? BRITTA - This industry is always changing, so I make it my business to know who is doing what and how did they get it. AMY - I approach this industry the same way I approach the management of a small business: never rest on your laurels. We don’t always know where or when the next client will come through the door, so I work hard each and every day so that I can continue to make a living at doing what I truly love to do.

What do you think is the most important thing each couple that works with you needs to know? BRITTA - That we are 100% here to provide amazing customer service, a beautiful product and tangible lasting memories. AMY - That regardless of how much or how little they are spending, my first priority is to give them a beautiful product and a stress-free experience.

The famous Bernard Pivot questionnaire:

What is your favorite word? BRITTA - Food AMY - Home
What is your least favorite word? BRITTA - No AMY - Hate
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? BRITTA - Feeling 100% loved AMY -Walking on the beach with my family, collecting seashells and hearing my children laugh (a little cliché, but completely true)
What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? BRITTA - Feeling abandoned and misunderstood AMY - Negativity and complaining
What sound or noise do you love? BRITTA - Laughter AMY - The Peruvian musicians that play in the Subway in NYC; it’s the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard.
What sound or noise do you hate? BRITTA - Screaming AMY - Grinding Teeth
What is your favorite curse word? BRITTA - Shit AMY - Shit. It’s just so versatile!
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? BRITTA - Acting AMY -Journalism. I can be pretty nosey.
What profession would you not like to do? BRITTA - Wedding planner AMY - Teacher. One of the hardest jobs in the world.
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? BRITTA - Welcome home, your friends and family are waiting in the dining room for you. AMY - “Thank you for doing my work, come in and stay as long as you like.”

You can visit Amy and Britta at www.notfromabox.com to view their galleries and see more of their gorgeous custom designed work!

DETAILS MATTER ~ The Dos and Don'ts of Toasting

2009-10-27T12:42:00.000-07:00

The Dos and Don’ts of Toasting

Depending on where you are in the planning process, it might seem early to think about who will be toasting you at the reception. But it’s best to give toast-makers ample time to write a speech. If you have a feeling there will be a few guests wanting to get on the mic, ask the best man or the maid of honor to find out who wants to speak. And if you prefer that some of those people not give toasts, have your point person explain that you and the groom are limiting the toasts to make time for dancing.

~Compliments of Real Simple Weddings

SEMI Planner Pick ~ Godiva Chocolate Cake Wedding

2009-10-22T13:24:00.000-07:00

SEMI Planner Pick ~ Godiva Milk Chocolate Wedding Cake filled with Dark Chocolate Ganache. This delicious wedding cake chocolate favor was inspired by renowned New York cake artist, Sylvia Weinstock! Godiva's Wedding Cake Chocolate Favors are sure to provide a fairytale ending for every guest. Their Couture Cakes are the best in wedding favors for the discerning eye and palate. Your guests will thank you for it!

SEMI Planner Pick ~ Versailles Chair

2009-10-21T19:31:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for something new and different to add to your wedding or event, check out the Versailles Chair!
We just love the look of the Versailles Chair and that is why we made this our SEMI Planner Pick! It adds just the right element of glitz and glamour to your event!

Real Wedding ~ Mr. and Mrs. Collier

2009-10-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, we had the honor of being a part of Ginny and Chase Collier's wedding day. It was an amazing day full of friends and family. They said their vows at the St. John's Episcopal Church and celebrated at an incredible private residence in Tampa. The guests enjoyed a live acoustic band, drinking, and fabulous food provided by Luigi's Catering and sushi provided by SOHO Sushi. Wright's Gourmet designed the wedding cake and also the groom's cake also known as the birthday cake. The day was made extra special as the guests sang, Happy Birthday to the groom because it was also his birthday. Aaron Lockwood Photography captured the most precious moments for Ginny and Chase! We can't wait to share the photos with you! It was amazing!

The Little White Book:

Day of Coordinator: Stonehouse Events & More, Inc. of course!

Photographer: Aaron Lockwood Photography

Rentals: PKS Rentals

Catering: Luigi's Catering

Catering: SoHo Sushi

Cake: Wright's Gourmet

Entertainment: Ben Bryan Band

Flowers: The Potting Shed

Transportation: Ambassador Limousines

Valet: VIP Parking

Hair and Makeup: Artistic Hair and Makeup

A big thank you to all of the wonderful vendors who made the day extra special!

TRENDS & STYLE ~ Inspirational Vision Boards

2009-10-14T16:41:00.000-07:00

We just LOVE this vision board for a beach wedding! The colors are just gorgeous and are a beautiful contrast to the neutral tones at the beach. Enjoy all of the fine details to this SUNTASTIC Wedding!

SEMI Etiquette Tips ~ Invitation Don'ts

2009-10-13T19:08:00.001-07:00

When getting ready to create your wedding invitations, remember this list of don'ts! You will not want to include any of this information on your wedding invitation.

The inclusion of "No Gifts", you can use the family grape vine to share this information with guests.

Bulletin board invitations - it is not a good idea to post an invitation on the bulletin board because it implies everyone is invited.

Dictating dress on the invitation, you can always add this to the reception invitation or response card.

Don't underestimate your time and how much additional time it takes to order your invitations.

Don't offend your guests by inviting them last minute.

Alcohol information is unnecessary to put on the invitation.

Information Courtesy of Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, Fifth Edition

TRENDS & STYLES

2009-10-12T17:37:00.000-07:00

Looking for a unique way to display your escort cards on your wedding day? We love the idea of "The Frame Up"! Display calligraphed names grouped according to table in frames. You can paint the frames in colors that fit in with your wedding color palette and assign each a table number. Just remember to get your RSVP's a few weeks earlier so you can give your calligrapher enough time or you may even be able to print them right off of your computer.

Photo credits Martha Stewart Weddings

SEMI Etiquette Tips ~ Choosing your Attendants

2009-10-06T16:07:00.000-07:00

When you begin envisioning who will be in your bridal party, there are many things to consider. Here are some new rules for choosing your attendants and some helpful tips to make this process easier.

There is no required number of attendants. ~ You can have has many or as few as you would like. We recommend choosing the people that really mean a lot to you. Try asking yourself this question, if you looked at your life 5 years from now, would these individuals still play a significant role in your life?

It is not necessary to have an equal number of bridesmaids and groomsmen/ushers. ~ It is better to have all of the people you really want to stand up for you at the alter than trying to make it even. You can easily have the groomsmen escort 2 bridesmaids in the recessional or bridesmaids can walk alone or in pairs.

You can have 2 maids of honor, a maid and a matron of honor, or 2 best men. ~ Sometimes you have 2 people that you really want to have stand up for you. You can easily just have them share duties!

Brides and grooms can have attendants of the opposite sex. ~ Honor Attendant, is the modern term for an attendant of the opposite sex. Many brides and grooms seek to pay tribute to their closest friends or brothers or sisters by including them in the bridal party in this unique way.

These are just a few of the new rules for wedding attendants. We think the decision really comes down to the people who play a significant role in your life. We know they would be honored to be a part of your wedding day! Which makes the day that much more special!

Credit: Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, Fifth Edition

Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book

2009-10-05T18:40:00.000-07:00

This week for "Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book", we are excited to feature Voila Cinematic! Alex and Jocelyn are an amazing husband and wife team that help tell the story of your wedding day from the pre-wedding jitters to your last wave good-bye. Voila Cinematic specializes in luxury wedding films that perfectly capture the class and elegance of your special day. They edit your footage into a documentary style film that tells the story of your wedding day. Alex and Jocelyn work with you to create the wedding film that portrays perfectly the details of your wedding day but also captures the essence of you as a couple. At Voila Cinematic, Alex and Jocelyn believe that emotions should never stand still and nothing captures the sound of his voice as he says "I do", the way you move in your dress, or the music from your first dance like Voila Cinematic film. Find out more about this dynamic couple by reading more below!

What do you love most about weddings?
Alex: The first sight of the daughter and father. I know it should be the bride and groom but seeing the way a father looks at his daughter has changed my life. Now I have such a desire to have a daughter so that I can experience that emotion.

Jocelyn: Being able to spend the day with a group of people who are so happy and full of joy.

How do you continue to challenge yourself in this industry?
Alex: As a former student of film, I watch movies from a different perspective than most people. I study Hollywood films and try to figure out how I can achieve this look in my films. Also, I continually practice my craft by going to film seminars and reading blogs, books, and magazines. I also love to just go out and practice.

Jocelyn: I have always loved school and really valued the importance of education, so I think that I challenge myself by constantly trying to learn more about our industry and the couples that we work with each week.

What do you think is the most important thing each couple that works with you needs to know?
Alex: You will cry when you watch your film. You will feel the emotions. You will watch your film over and over again. We create stories of your day so that you will never forget.

Jocelyn: I think couples should know that I am obsessed with details. The more information I can have, the better.

The famous Bernard Pivot questionnaire:

What is your favorite word?
Alex: copious
Jocelyn: joyful

What is your least favorite word?
Alex: moist, because my wife is not fond of it so neither am I.
Jocelyn: Do I have to say it? Alex already said it above me. I despise that word.

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Alex: My wife and God
Jocelyn: Watching Alex work and seeing the passion he has for his profession, my relationship with God, and great writing.

What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Alex: The word “videographer”
Jocelyn: People who don’t have an original thought just stunt creativity.

What sound or noise do you love?
Alex: Good music
Jocelyn: Laughter-because it’s contagious.

What sound or noise do you hate?
Alex: the vacuum cleaner
Jocelyn: heavy metal music

What is your favorite curse word?
Alex: I never curse. I think it shows a lack of intelligence and creativity. It’s just offensive.
Jocelyn: To be honest, I never cuss. My mom taught me that it wasn’t lady-like, and it just stuck. I like to say “Oh nuts!”

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Alex: Baseball player or Hollywood film director
Jocelyn: I would love to be a writer.

What profession would you not like to do?
Alex: Sewer maintenance
Jocelyn: Phlebotomist, too much pressure!

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Alex: “Good job my faithful and loving servant. You were a great father and a great husband and you loved people around you. Welcome home my son.”
Jocelyn: “You loved well” and “ Your grandpa’s waiting to see you over there.”

Thank you Alex and Jocelyn! For more information about Voila Cinematic, visit their website at www.voilacinematic.com! You will be glad that you did!

Real Wedding Video Highlight

2009-09-30T18:26:00.000-07:00

We are so thrilled to be able to share with you the video highlight from our wedding with Kim and Joe! What an amazing couple and family, we just loved working with them!

Our friends at Voila Cinematic captured their day just perfectly! Watch and you will be amazed at the story that video tells!

Find out more about Voila Cinematic at www.voilacinematic.com!

Visit the link below to view Kim and Joe's wedding.

http://vimeo.com/6822784

Rob and Jen's Engagement Party

2009-09-30T14:40:00.000-07:00

Engagement Parties are a great way to introduce two families that are going to be joined on the day, their children say "I Do". Recently, we were hired to help the parents of the groom plan an intimate engagement party for their son and soon to be daughter in law. Some of our top priorities were good food and good music. Luckily, our friends from the Alan C. Thomas Group, a Jazz Trio were available and happy to play their music for this party. Food being a high priority, we recruited Circles Bistro who is well known for their fabulous food and impeccable service! Plus, we added a few details of our own to make the event more special. We kept the decor clean and simple with black linens and white satin sashes. We used white hydrangeas as centerpieces and lots of candles. Using some photos of Rob and Jen, we designed a canvas with their photos and added meaningful words like: together, loving, happiness, adored and some others to enhance the reason for the day. With their initials being R and J, we took the first letter of each of their names and painted them white. Then we tied them together with a ribbon that read, "happily ever after". It was a perfect addition to the gift table! As the guests and family members arrived, they were handed a question either about Rob, Jen or them as a couple. They had to find the answer to their question before the end of the night. This was a great way to get the two families talking and learn more about this amazing couple! It was a lot of fun and later on in the evening, everyone enjoyed hearing the stories about these two individuals that will soon become man and wife. Engagement parties are a great introduction to the couple who is about to commit to each other for the rest of their lives and gives the guests an opportunity to learn more about them as a couple! Congratulations Rob and Jen! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of one of your special days!

Thank you to all of our amazing vendors who helped make this event over the top!

The Little White Book

Planner/Coordinator: Stonehouse Events & More, Inc.

Entertainment: Alan C. Thomas Group (www.alanthomasjazz.com)

Catering: Circles Bistro (www.circlesbistro.com)

Flowers: Events in Bloom (www.events-in-bloom.com)

Linens: Connie Duglin (www.connieduglinlinen.com)

Rentals: Coast to Coast Rentals (www.fastpartyrentals.com)

Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book

2009-09-30T04:54:00.000-07:00

This week Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book, we are featuring Josh Walther with Inspire Entertainment. Inspire Entertainment provides a fresh approach to event production with their experienced DJ's great live musicians and creative lighting packages. Josh has been in the entertainment industry for more than 10 years and is an amazing DJ! He listens to your ideas and helps you layout the perfect music for your wedding and reception. Josh is meticulous in his set up and makes sure that everything looks clean and neat, he even takes the time to hide all of those unsightly cords! We just love him because he is so easy to work with and does an outstanding job keeping your guests happy on the dance floor all night long!

What do you love most about weddings? I love the creative process of working with the planner and vendors to create the perfect atmosphere.

How do you continue to challenge yourself in this industry? I set goals. I strive to be the best at everything I do.

What do you think is the most important thing each couple that works with you needs to know? That although I have done hundreds of weddings, I really want it to be exactly how THEY imagined. I don't have a specific formula that I follow. I will listen to their ideas and follow through with them. I will give my opinion if I think something will not work, but it is ultimately up to them.

The famous Bernard Pivot questionnaire:

What is your favorite word? YES
What is your least favorite word? NO
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Music
What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Meanness and cruelty
What sound or noise do you love? the guitar or piano
What sound or noise do you hate? the sound of anything hot being poured.
What is your favorite curse word? bloody hell
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? probably a cake decorator/baker. That seems fun and I really like cake.
What profession would you not like to do? Telemarketer although I tried it in high school.
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? I would like to hear him laugh at all the funny things that I have done or said!

For more information on Josh Walther and Inspire Entertainment, you can visit his website at www.inspiredj.com!

Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book

2009-09-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

This week's featured vendor for "Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book" is photographer Jerry McGaghey with Jerry McGaghey Photography. Jerry is an amazing photographer! He is on top of his game and everywhere he needs to be at the wedding making sure he captures every moment you want! My brides love him because Jerry treats them like a RockStar and brings out their inner RockStar in front of the camera. His reputation of giving you the coolest damn wedding photos on the planet makes him one of the most in demand photographers in the country. RockStar Sexy is you...the bride and groom! Read below to learn more about Jerry McGaghey!

What do you love most about weddings?
The idea that this is the most important day in this couple's lives and they trust me to photograph it. Also, what other profession allows you to go out and party every Saturday.

How do you continue to challenge yourself in this industry?
I am a magazine addict. I buy at least two or three magazines a week (plus I have subscriptions to about five others) because I love looking at the different photographic styles and ad designs within to stay fresh and original. I like to organize get-togethers with other photographers to share knowledge and techniques. I also attend seminars of all sorts; photographic, business, artistic, you name it. I believe you must master your craft!

What do you think is the most important thing each couple that works with you needs to know?
That I am a perfectionist and I am very hard on myself to get incredible results for all of my couples. My goal is to make the couple cry when they see my work. I love when a client doesn't even need to meet me... they see the work and know that they MUST have me photograph their wedding too.

The famous Bernard Pivot questionnaire:

What is your favorite word? Imagine
What is your least favorite word? Immigration
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Clients that trust me to do my thing and feel that photographs are the most important thing to them.
What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? People that think that they can do your job... it's easy. And clients that treat me like a vendor.
What sound or noise do you love? Laughter
What sound or noise do you hate? An animal in pain or distress.
What is your favorite curse word? Motherf**ker
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Club DJ
What profession would you not like to do? Telemarketer
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Damn, I laughed soooo hard had that one thing you said!!

To view more of Jerry's work visit his website at http://www.weddingstampa.com/!

LOCAL HAPPENINGS ~ It's a Weekend for Bridal Shows

2009-09-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

If you are a bride and looking for a Bridal Show to attend be sure to stop by these two grand events!

Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club is hosting a Bridal Show this Sunday, September 20, 2009. You can follow the link below to find out more information about their Bridal show and registration information. http://www.clubcorp.com/club/scripts/library/view_document.asp?S=NAV&DID=16748&GRP=10&NS=PCH&MFCODE=TPGCC&SUBGRP=31

Plus, the Florida Signature Bridal Affair hosted by Perfect Wedding Guide is the perfect place to plan your wedding! Join them on September 20, 2009 at the Embassy Suites Tampa USF/ Near Busch Gardens to meet the top wedding professionals in Greater Tampa Bay. Doors are open between 12PM- 4PM, but arrive early and have a sneak preview of our Show Sponsors. Visit the link below to get more information and find out how to register!

http://tampabride.com/

Have fun!

Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book

2009-09-16T18:49:00.000-07:00

This week featured on "Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book" is Julissa Mercado from Beauty Brought Out. Julissa is a hair and makeup artist who is absolutely top notch! Not only does she do an incredible job for her brides or models but she is extremely fast and efficient (which is another reason we love her). Julissa is very well organized and keeps the brides on schedule. She is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Esthetician, who graduated from the Pivot Point International in Chicago, Illinois. Julissa is experienced with all skin and hair types. Beauty Brought Out's mission statement is "Your Beauty Within, Will Be Brought Out" and we know for sure that she delivers. Read what Julissa had to say when we asked her our famous questions.

What do you love most about weddings? Knowing the bride feels and looks FABULOUS!
How do you continue to challenge yourself in this industry? Trying to get my work into more wedding magazines
What do you think is the most important thing each couple that works with you needs to know? I am reliable and I listen to the bride’s request.

The famous Bernard Pivot questionnaire:

What is your favorite word? FAITH
What is your least favorite word? HATE
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Creatively: Colors and style; Spiritually: Having Faith; Emotionally; Positivity
What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Creatively: uuuummmmmm…. Pretty creative, so not sure; Spiritually: uuummmm…. Nothing here either; Emotionally; Negativity What sound or noise do you love? Smooth Jazz
What sound or noise do you hate? Drunk People
What is your favorite curse word? Uuuummmm…. Is this appropriate? I don’t think this F*@# S;*#$& is… lol j/k
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Dermatology… God Willing within the next 3years…But I will always Free Lance… I LOVE my job!!!
What profession would you not like to do? Wedding Planning … hahaha
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? “You really are a Great Hair and Make-up Artist, you have touched many lives with the talent that I gave you”…. Not that I’ve thought about it or anything… lol

Thanks Julissa! You can find more information about Beauty Brought Out at www.beautybroughtout.com! We just love her and know you will too!

DETAILS MATTER ~ Monochromatic Flowers

2009-09-11T18:17:00.000-07:00

The monochromatic color scheme is the most modern approach used today in flowers. This style uses the shades and tints of a singular color, whether it be a variety of flowers or a simple bouquet of the same flower.

The best way to use the monochromatic color scheme is to have the contrast with your other decor, for example if your table cloth is white (a standard color option) then by using a contrasting floral color; you would create a tremendous impact in the space with these bursts of color layed out around the room. You can be really creative with the design too! Of course, all flowers are beautiful but when you have this singular color in different shades and tints, it can be a really beautiful and powerful statement!

TRENDS & STYLE ~Inspirational Vision Boards~

2009-09-11T18:05:00.001-07:00

We just love this vision for board for it's simplicity and elegance! You never know where you are going to find inspiration for your wedding and this Tuscan Tale offers a relaxing and casual atmosphere for you and your guests. You can just imagine yourself here at this wedding soaking in the sun and the fresh fruit and flowers scent. Your mouth just waters at the sight of the chocolate cake! Just by looking at these pictures you can just envision yourself there!

We would love to hear what you think about this Inspirational Vision Board, so please share your thoughts below by making a comment!

Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book

2009-09-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

Cakes by Nomeda is our featured vendor this week of our "Inside the Wedding Planner's White Book". A native to Lithuania, a small European country on the Baltic Sea, Nomeda brought her mastery of the patisserie craft to the Tampa Bay area. Nomeda Baronas has been sculpting cakes for over twenty years that are unique not only in taste but in their appearance as well. She is a true artist who encourages her clients thoughts and ideas in selecting the flavors and design; making each cake an individual work of art designed specifically for the bride and groom. Besides translating her visions onto canvas with a paint brush, Nomeda has a talent with musical instruments and a gift for singing as well. We just love working with her! She is not only a talented cake designer but very dependable as well. I have had a groom comment right after the cutting of the cake to his guests, "that is good cake!" Nomeda truly creates FABULOUS cakes! Continue reading below to learn more about this incredibly talented lady, Nomeda!

What do you love most about weddings? It is always a happy occasion that brings two families and their traditions together.
How do you continue to challenge yourself in this industry? I don't remember the last time I said "no, I can't do this". When we get requests for unusual flavors and designs, I find the challenge inspiring. Finding new ways to create the perfect cake that is someone's vision, is very exciting.
What do you think is the most important thing each couple that works with you needs to know? We strive to make cakes that not only look fabulous, but taste fabulous as well. Whenever I attend one of our weddings, I always find it satisfying to see almost every plate empty after our cake has been served.

The famous Bernard Pivot questionnaire:

What is your favorite word? Friends
What is your least favorite word? Boring
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Peaceful, harmonious surroundings
What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Controlling people
What sound or noise do you love? Birds
What sound or noise do you hate? Yelling
What is your favorite curse word? We don't have them in Lithuania!
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Singer
What profession would you not like to do? Computer engineering
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Got Cake?

Cakes By Nomeda is located in the Tampa Bay area. For more information and to set up private consultation, please contact Chef Nomeda herself at 727-424-3104 or at info@cakesbynomeda.com. You can view more of Nomeda's beautiful cakes at www.cakesbynomeda.com. Enjoy!