Happy Holiday's from Happily Ever After Weddings

We wanted to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas from all of us at Happily Ever After Weddings. I wanted to share a picture of my VERY best friends who are also my wonderful assistants. I don't know where I would be without my girls, they each bring something different to my business and always put a smile on my face, no matter what the situation! I love them dearly...pictured from the left..Tricia Wiegand, me (Lisa Ragan), Melissa Koch, & Lisa Tyler.

We had our Annual Girl's Night Christmas Party last night, the one time a year that I break out the china and crystal...but oh so worth it. But then I have to hear my husband say "Why don't you go all out for me?" "uh........cause you don't squeal with excitement like they do?" :)

And remember you can easily jazz up your Christmas Party dinner with menu cards, chocolates, ribbons, place cards.....you can print your own menu's and layer them on colored card stock. It's inexpensive and adds a personal touch to any dinner party, not just Christmas.

Happy Holiday's to you all! And to Lauren and Grant Essig & Cory and Michael Cripe...enjoy your first Christmas together as husband and wife!!

-Lisa K Ragan

Bridal Show at the Peoria Civic Center

I am thrilled to announce that I will be a part of the Wedding of a Lifetime Bridal Show at the Peoria Civic Center on January 6th. Doors open at 10:00 AM with bridal style shows at 11:00 and 1:30. The show will take place in the new Ballroom on the 2nd level, this will be a great opportunity to check out all the new renovations at the Civic Center, especially if you are looking for a Venue for your upcoming wedding.

The most exciting part for me is working with Heaven on Earth, they graciously let me apart of this wonderful experience...and in return I have River City String Quartet coming to play and Pam Cooley coming to take some great details shots of the booth and flowers. Us girls can never have enough pictures of our work! haha So a SPECIAL thank you to Jane Hoffmire from River City String Quartet and my wonderful friend Pam Cooley! What a fun day we will have! If you plan on attending, please come by our booth and say HI - we would love to tell you about our services and how we can make your wedding day as perfect as you always dreamt it would be. HAPPY PLANNING!

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Michael Cripe!!!

Another beautiful wedding took place this past weekend, ice and all! Cory Crusen and Michael Cripe became husband and wife at 4:30 Saturday evening at Jubilee Historical Site by candle light. It was the most beautiful, romantic ceremony I have ever seen. The bride was beyond stunning in her ivory beaded satin gown..not to mention her floor length white fur to keep her warm. Heaven on Earth did an amazing job on the church decor, it was exactly what the bride had dreamt of!!

Then off to the Packard Plaza for a beautiful cocktail hour, including a red holiday signature cocktail and appetizers galore! Later the guests were moved up to the Ballroom for the dinner reception including more appetizers and a plated dinner. And I have to admit this is the first reception I have ever been to where the dancing started BEFORE the dinner was served. However, if you had this band at your reception, you would have been dancing too...Encore... out of St. Louis, MO was AWESOME!!!! The ambiance of the room was breathtaking, candles everywhere, had to have been 100's of them, the room was glowing....my pictures do not even do it justice.....Scott Schilling will be sharing some of his photo's with me so that you can see how amazing it was...every bride's dream come true! Gregg's florist did the flowers and decor for the reception site....a hundred rounds of applause for them, they transformed that room in a day...so much fun to see!

Again, it is always sad when a wedding is over, I get so attached to my Bride & Groom..almost like they are family....but the great news is...I wont have to leave them completely, I will be doing Cory's sister Kristen's wedding in Chicago in September of 2008...I am very very fortunate...these two families were simply beautiful people inside and out, thank you for the HONOR of being your wedding coordinator, I will never forget the memories!

I wish Cory and Michael all the world holds for them...love, happiness, health and a lifetime of great moments together!! LOVE YA BOTH!!