CF Gala

This past Saturday night was the First Annual CF Gala held at the Holiday Inn City Center. I had the honor of being their event manager and creative designer for the event. My dear friend Melinda Iund approached me over a year ago to help, and I jumped on board. I got several of my vendor friends to donate items in order to make sure this event was perfect for Melinda and the CF Foundation. Heaven on Earth donated centerpieces, I Do Events donated runners, chair covers & sashes, That's a Cake donated her yummy cake for dessert, and Sound & Light Creations donated their DJing services for the evening.

It was such an amazing experience and every volunteer worked so hard and did an amazing job, and I have to say that the silent auction was phenomenal!! And I even won one of the items..A Marigold cap that I adore!!!!

It was a "feel good" evening for sure and then to top it all off, I receive this amazing email that I had to share......................

“To the BOL Committee and Volunteers-
To you all, I cannot thank you enough for lending us your time and talent for the last year or so, and for the volunteers that came to help us at the event. You all contributed to this event, and I am truly grateful that as a result of all of the hard work, that we were able to raise $35,000 for Cystic Fibrosis and Care. This event would not have been the success it was, had it not been for Melinda Iund and her determination to get this event off of the ground. I am thankful to her for so much, but specifically today, for introducing me to the best team of volunteers ever! Each of you played a special role to her and I and to the Foundation. Jacqui ,Shawn and Melissa- simply put, your organization and execution of the auction was priceless. It was a beautiful display, perfect record keeping, and wonderful redemption. The silent auction raised $4631 and the live auction raised $3700. That amount is spectacular and would not have happened without all of your hard work. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. To Lisa Ragan, I cannot tell you how much your donation of time and talent meant to this event...you are truly amazing at what you do and there will not be a day that goes by that I dont recommend you to someone. You are brilliant, and you made the Breath of Life Gala come alive Saturday night...so thank you so much for that! To all of the committee members who by attending the event, helping with invitations, securing donations, donating items, recruiting tables, selling tickets, spreading the word...Thank you..you have helped to create a stepping stone for the future Breath of Life event and raise $35,000 for Cystic Fibrosis Research and Care. Melinda, thank you for all you have done..you were the perfect person to lift this off the ground and now we have a great basis for the future!
Now, .....I hope everyone has recovered from a long night, and I will be in touch as I wrap up this 2009 event and start the planning for 2010!
My sincere Thanks,
Kellie”

Pictures of Annie & Andres's Wedding....

Pictures of Ali & Anthony's reception...

A Two Wedding Weekend!

Wow, what an amazing weekend HEA Weddings had this past weekend. I, along with my staff are still reliving the weekend, it was just that fantastic!! I rarely take two weddings in one weekend, but on the rare occasion that I do, the logistics have to be perfect, and the venues ones that we work with on a constant basis. So this past weekend was one of those rarities and it was so much fun! Both weddings and clients get the utmost attention, right down to dog sitting and babysitting services, we do it all for our clients to ensure they have the perfect day.
A special thanks to all my girls..Melissa (best Event Manager ever, she is my right arm and calming soul!) to Sherry, Amber, Lisa T, Heather...and always to my husband who helps with tear down and deals with my crazy schedule, and my parents for coming to take pictures for me.

So let's recap the weekend shall we.....

Ali & Anthony were married at Sacred Heart Church, downtown Peoria. The church was full, and Ali was just bursting to get down the aisle, she and her father locked arm in arm. She was radiant and stunning right down to her blue shoes. It was a beautiful ceremony, and when Ali & Tony exited the church to beautiful custom made wedding wands swirling in the air, there waited the red carpet and the Roles Royce...the perfect exit, fit for royalty! Then came the party, something Ali and her mom really wanted to be perfect..Ali wanted a nightclub feel to her reception and that is exactly what she received. When I entered the room, I was blown away and that was before all the lighting was finished. I work with my clients to achieve their dream wedding and when that dream becomes a reality, its just breathtaking!! To back track a bit...when I arrived at the church to see Ali, one of the first things she asked me was "how does the room look?" And my face and body language must have said it all...ok..ok..so I might have been jumping up and down. Its hard to hide that kind of excitement! She couldn't wait to see it!
Three different centerpieces by Heaven on Earth.....Custom lighting that included up lighting, pin spotting, and custom gobo's all by the amazing Sound & Light Creations team. One of the most amazing and TALLEST wedding cakes I had ever seen by That's a Cake? And square top tables, bar stools, and linens by Save the Date. All the details down to the Suckers that served as place cards were carefully thought out...nothing less than perfection would do. I cant wait to see the pictures that Bruer Photography captured, I know they will be stunning.

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Annie & Andres were married at St. Mary's Cathedral downtown Peoria. A classic beauty Annie was in her lace gown, and it fit her like perfection! She was beaming from the first moment I saw her to the last moment when we said goodbye late in the evening. The three of us had a great time planning their day, and yes, 3 of us..Andres was very much a part of all the planning and it was so refreshing. I just adore these two!!!
Their reception was at the Hotel Pere Marquette downtown Peoria, beautiful white wooden chairs, black & white linens, candles, and custom menu's all by Save the Date. Beautiful chic floral arrangements by Gregg's Florist. The wedding cake by Trefzgers and the groom's cake (which was a total surprise to him) by That's a Cake? I have to say that the groom's cake was a huge hit, with the bride and groom being Chicagoans and many of their guests as well, the Wrigley Field cake was all the talk...really made it hard to cut! The band Final Say had the dance floor packed in 45 seconds and it never stopped. Their energy was contagious and I would highly recommend them for any wedding or event, they are out of Chicago, but do lots of traveling.
I also had the pleasure of working with Nellie for the first time, she was an absolute doll, great to work with and looking forward to more in the future. And of course I can not wait to see the pictures and get some on the blog and site.

As I come to a close, I have to admit two wonderful couples and two fabulous events in one day is a lot to take in, but thanks to blogging and facebook, I can keep reliving them both for a very long time!! Myself and my staff couldn't have been more honored to be a part of these two very special weddings.

What's the difference??

I often get asked "What is the difference between a Wedding Coordinator and an Event Designer? Are they not the same thing?"
The answer to that question is "No".
An Event designer creates the visual aspects of your event, like a florist does. However most Event Designers also have many other items to offer clients such as beautiful linens, chavri chairs, furniture, lighting elements, and so much more..think of it as a one stop shop in many cases. Most event designers also do flowers, from bouquets and corsages to centerpieces.

Wedding Coordinators work with their clients to create the perfect day from start to finish, making sure you have the best vendors for your needs and budget. Working with your florist or event designer to ensure every detail discussed is perfect and as planned. Your wedding coordinator also works with your photographer, your DJ, your church and reception venue, all vendors to ensure everything is planned accordingly and happens flawlessly. Wedding coordinators are by your side on your wedding day, from getting you down the aisle to running your reception, ensuring a fabulous time for your guests. The best part about a good coordinator is they take the work, the worry, and the unknown away from the bride, groom, family and friends so that everyone can enjoy the day together. At HEA Weddings we like to say "You show up, exchange vows, party, and go home...the rest is up to us!"

Happy Planning!
-Lisa