PI Aid Relief

Hi Everyone,

I'm sure those of you who follow our Facebook page has seen our recent posts of the typhoon ravaged areas of the Philippines. Also, many of you know that Sarena and I are Filipino and still have many family members who live there. As soon as I started reading the news releases about the death toll, food and water shortages, and children now orphaned I knew that we needed to step in. 

It's always hard to figure out where to start, but the only thing I knew to do was start taking donations. We have been using our Facebook presence to get the message out and we have started a fundraiser to start collecting anything we can. We will be donating 100% of the funds received to our favorite ministry called International Care Ministries. We chose them because they donate 100% of money received to the area of your choice. There are no administrative fees or other fees that take away from the kind donations. We also chose this ministry, because Sarena had the pleasure of helping them plan a Christmas event here in DC back in 2011. It was a charity event that had children who are part of the program come over from the rural towns in the Philippines come together to put on a Christmas program. It was great, and truly touching to see them and hear their stories. This is the only charity we have thought to give all our donations to. They have headquarters in Manila where they will then organize the resources to send to such towns as Tacloban or Bohol. 

Any help that you can give is greatly appreciated. If you can't donate money, that is ok, just help us spread the word, and share our PI Aid Relief Facebook page on to yours. For more information on how to donate, please visit our Facebook page. 

We truly thank you from the bottom of our hearts that you're even reading this! They need help, and we will do our best to do so. Here are some pictures of some of the hardest hit areas c/o the International Care Ministries blog:

Please let us know if you're interested in donating or helping with anything. 

It is greatly appreciated!

Billowing Bouquets?

Ok, a huge trend that I'm seeing everywhere right now, is the over sized bouquet. Now, I don't really know what to think about this one. Is it considered stylish to carry around something that probably weighs at least five pounds and takes the shine away from your beauty and your dress. On the other hand, having a bouquet that is over the top, showcases your overall unique style that can be seen through a gorgeous arrangement. Also, if you're not planning on spending a ton on floral centerpieces but still want to have flowers incorporated, it's a good way to have a beautiful bouquet. I found some pictures of some larger-than-normal bouquets via Loverly. Let us know what you think!

I do have a take away from this trend and post. I just don't know if it's me. In my opinion, and having been a bride, I don't want anything to take away from my dress or overall look on that day. I also don't want to carry around a massive bouquet . But with that little rant, I must say, that the gorgeousness that comes from beautiful flowers is just amazing. A wedding isn't complete without a bud or two. A bride's bouquet expresses the bride's creativity and sense of style. If you're going for over the top, then this bouquet style is meant for you! These photos are also so beautiful! Is it obvious how much I love flowers? LoL!

xoxo,

Nicole

It's All About the Dress

So, it's true what they say, "It's all about the dress"! It's the one thing that the bride gets for her wedding that fully expresses her style and elegance. When I first thought of buying my dress, my first thought was something with lots of bling, sweetheart neckline, a mermaid style, and something that hugged every inch of my curves. Little did I know, after trying on a few, that I wold go something that I would've never thought. I ended up going with a dropped waist gown covered in lace. It was a straight across neckline, but I had them change it to a sweetheart because I know that was a must have in my dress! There was no bling at all, who would've guessed that haha

Now where did I buy my dream dress? It is from a beautiful boutique in Herndon, Virginia, called Soliloquy Bridal Couture. The owner, Miriam Liggett, is a dear friend of Sweetface's and I could not have imagined getting my dress from any other shop. I was treated so wonderfully, and greeted with with this delicious mango lemonade and an array of sweet treats. I was so nervous finding my wedding gown, but I knew I was in great hands! I tried on several dresses, until I found the one. I had that feeling that you see in movies and on tv. I was speechless and lost my breath by the beauty that I felt when I put on the dress. I felt like a bride. I looked like a bride. It was truly magic. I had my sister, best friend, and mom in the shop with me and I couldn't have asked for a different set of supportive people.

I believe that the overall experience I had with Miriam and her staff made the whole experience that much better. It was so great to feel like a bride and just feel so special in her store. Not to mention, her selection of wedding gowns, bridesmaids dresses, and accessories can't be beat. The style she carries in her shop covers so many different tastes of the modern bride. Everything from embellished mermaid gowns to A-line lace dresses, any bride with any taste can go in there and find her dream dress.

To all of my brides that hire us in the beginning stages of their planning, I always recommend them to go to Soliloquy. It is the only shop I feel 100% comfortable sending my clients to because I know the service that they bring to their guests and clients, and I only want the best for my brides.

If you're a bride looking for a dress, please go here! You will not be disappointed!

Me picking up my dress and having a champagne toast with the most important women in my life!

Snapped some pics of the shop while waiting for the finished product! 

Miriam's accessories are to die for!

More accessories!

Me and Miriam picking up my dress! See my ecstatic face?! I was so happy!

Me with my Handsome Husband in my Soliloquy Bridal Gown!

Do Wedding Planners Plan Their Own Weddings?

Does a wedding planner plan her own wedding?

 

That has seemed to be the question that a lot of people have been asking me the last few months as I've delved into planning for my big day. Apart from having a full time day job, a business, and family and friends that want to see me, it's been rather tough to find enough time to really sit down and plan. With me, the difficulty has been finding the decor and details that I really want to have part of our wedding and not changing my mind to the next cutest thing! My poor fiance :P He's been so great, and really that has been the secret to my success in planning our wedding. It's having a groom that is very involved and helpful! Thank goodness for him! And oh my, has he been patient with my indecisiveness!

 

Other than those things, planning has been great. So to answer the question, does a planner plan her own wedding? I say yes! You only get one wedding, and why not use your expertise and connections to plan the best wedding out there! It's definitely different than planning a client's wedding. There are more emotional ties to yours, and you are the one making all the final decisions! It's so hard... But with the right support system, anyone can do it. The one thing that I will always recommend to anyone having a wedding - big or small - at least hire a Day Of Coordinator. This will ease your mind, and all of those around you. Pick someone you can trust, and someone who can execute your vision. And the bonus is that your mom, sister, bridesmaids, and yourself will be able to enjoy the evening without having to worry about setting up or packing up! I have hired myself a Day Of - one of our very own, and one of the best Assistants Sweetface has ever seen.

 

This wedding planner has planned every detail... Now let's do this! 67 Days and counting!

 

 

My future Hubs is SO good at assembling invitations. It was a night filled with pizza and paper cuts - at least they're all out!

 

Intern Spotlight - Kelly Sartorius

I began interning for Sweetface Events during the summer after my freshman year at University of South Carolina. I fell in love with wedding planning during my sophomore year at Herndon High when my fashion teacher, Julie Pickering, had our class plan our own wedding as an end of the year project. Little did I know when I was looking for internships that summer, that Mrs. Pickering had also taught Nicole a few years before! What a small world.

My time with Sweetface events can only be described as, well, sweet! As soon as I met Nicole and Sarena I knew I was in good hands. Having never helped plan a wedding before, I was a tad concerned that I would have no idea what to do when I helped out with the first wedding in May. Turns out, I didn’t! But Nicole and Sarena knew exactly what to do, all the time. They had quick fixes for everything that went wrong. They even brought this huge bag that carried everything from scissors to safety pins to white out. Anything that you would need to fix a wedding blooper, they had. What also impressed me was the extremely detailed, down-to-the-minute schedule that they handed all the interns before we started the weddings. It was comforting for an extremely Type A girl like me. And I knew that with all the preparations they had, the weddings would go on no matter what hindrances seemed to come about.

Nicole and Sarena also spent time on me. I had lots of questions, and they were always so willing to sit down and answer them for me, give me tips and help me decide where my next steps would be. They are extremely approachable. I felt so comfortable asking them for help or admitting I needed direction. They never dismissed me or made me feel like I was “just” an intern.

I also learned SO much from working with Sweetface. I loved being able to see first-hand what goes into day-of coordinating. Whether it was setting up escort cards, attending to the bride and bridal party, cutting off the bottoms of candles with knives so they would fit the holders or arranging centerpieces on tables, I was always working on something. I feel much more confident now taking on an actual wedding because of my experience with Nicole and Sarena. My time with them was so great that Nicole even asked me to help with her own wedding this October. While I am nowhere near deserving of being asked of that, it just goes to show once again how thoughtful and down-to-earth the whole business is. I would highly recommend them to anyone and everyone I meet!

           

The Engagement of My Dreams!

Some of you may know that I am recently engaged. It happened on a family trip to Disney World, and it couldn't have been more perfect. It just so happened that my family and his family would be in Orlando at the same time. It was Thanksgiving weekend to be exact, so you can imagine the amount of people at the parks. Packing and getting ready for the vacation, I had a hint of a proposal, actually more a hope for one. He knows how much I love Disney World, and even more the fact that both of our families would be there at the same time. Chris had a whole speech prepared. It was Thanksgiving, and so he had even warned me that he would probably say a little something when both families got to the park. It was so like him to really open up with our families, so I really didn't think anything of it. We were all finally together and were able to take a huge family picture right in front of the castle! I thought I was going to pass out from all the happiness. His parents home base is in Florida, so we don't get to see them very often so it was just great to have them meet my family and see where I come from. You would've thought the smile on my face at this point would become permanent because of how happy I was. Then, he stops everything right next to this castle on this bridge over some water. He starts off by thanking everyone for being there then he turns to me. He starts talking about me, and oh man I'm starting to get emotional. Still no idea of the question he's about to ask. I could've sworn I blacked out because of all the excitement, and next thing I know I see him on his knee with my gorgeous ring in the palm of his hand! Tears are filling my eyes and I can't even see at this point! Of course my answer is the one you can expect. It was the most important answer I will give my entire life! I am SO HAPPY that his dad got everything on video because I know I was blacking out there HAHA. All in all, he picked the perfect - everything. It happened right next to Cinderella's castle, both sets of families there, beautiful weather, the perfect man... There's not one thing that I would've had him do differently. And now it is recorded for me to be able to watch over and over - which I have! I am so amazingly blessed to have found the man of my dreams and surround myself with friends and family who mean so much. Thank you to my future husband who has continued to make my dreams come true.

Our First Wedding Of 2013 At Top Of The Town

Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Michael Jackson!

New Year, New Us - Here's to 2013

I know I'm a tad bit late, but HAPPY NEW YEAR! So we made it... through several severe weather storms and passed the end of the Mayan calendar! And now we're here to lucky year '13, and I couldn't be happier. 2013 is going to be a big year for us. We're successfully going on 4 years as a company, there's going to be a new addition to the family, and I'm getting married! That's right folks, the wedding planner will soon be wed. And I couldn't feel more blessed. The last few years have taught us a lot as a company and we have just grown in general. Our responsibilities are changing and growing each and everyday. Sweetface has been a such a blessing and I could not say thank you enough for the love and support we've gotten over the years. This year will be filled with a lot of updates, down to new business cards and a fresh new website. It's so exciting to expand our creative minds and work with some really great people that are as eager as us to grow Sweetface. We will attend more industry events, book more clients (Lord willing!), and simply love what we do more and more each day. I cannot wait to see what this lucky year will bring for us. 

Thank you for all the love and support, and we hope to be able to repay it all one day. But for now, enjoy our blog posts, be mesmerized by our pictures, and giggle at all the silly things we like to post. 

With all the best,

Nicole & Sarena