Thursday, November 26, 2009

Giving Thanks....

As I sit here on Thanksgiving morning drinking my coffee (and fighting my cat off my laptop), I catch myself reflecting on everything I am thankful for.
Thankful that myself and my family are healthy, thankful for all the friendships I have gained, relationships made. Thankful for my amazing husband that supports me in everything that this wedding business entails. My family who helps me at midnight when asked...and they don't even gripe or complain..:) My three little nieces and my new nephew (in picture above)who bring joy and laughter to my heart and soul. For my past clients, thank you for the amazing memories. And to my present clients, how wonderful you all are, and how very blessed I am to be on this amazing journey with you as we plan your wedding.
To my employees for all your hard work and constant enthusiasm. Thankful for the wonderful vendors whose passion in what they do brings so much happiness to myself and my clients.
This year I am so thankful, my heart is full!
-Lisa

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Something to share....



Feeling the love..and giving thanks to Shane for this fabulous write up!!! For more on the write up he did click here.


"To be honest with you, when I started playing weddings a few years ago I didn't know why people would spend money on a Wedding planner. Wow, was I ignorant. A wedding without a wedding planner is like having a wedding without a cake. It just doesn't make sense. The difference that it makes is a blessing for any bride who wants to be certain that their big day runs smoothly. You can find out more about "why you need a wedding planner" on Lisa's site...but now onto my rant. I had the pleasure of playing a ceremony and reception a year ago yesterday with Lisa of Happily Ever After Weddings as the wedding planner. This was the 2nd time I had played a wedding with someone to boss me around all day (just kidding), and let me say that I have never been to a wedding that was so thought out, planned, organized, and a pleasure to be at than this one was. Lisa is a pure charm to work with and can bring light to any situation even though there wasn't a bad situation all day because that is what good planners do. In my business classes they used to call is risk-management I think. I didn't get to see all the pre-planning that goes on beforehand but I heard from the Bride that there was nothing to worry about there either. I wouldn't expect anything less after what I saw on the day of the wedding. It was one of those weddings where I played the ceremony and the reception so anyone who can keep me in line for almost 12 hours has to be awesome at what they do. To that I say, Lisa with Happily Ever After Weddings is a must have for any wedding. Keep rocking Lisa!!"

-Shane McSimov

Monday, November 16, 2009

Ava & Reese..The Tea Party models




HEA Weddings & Pam Cooley Photography present "The Tea Party"













This was a fun opportunity for me, so I couldn't pass it up. Many of you know Pam Cooley for her beautiful wedding photography, but what you may not know is how fabulous she is at Children's photography. She spent most of the summer so concentrated on weddings that she put children's photography on the back burner till a few weeks ago when she remembered why she loved it...the kids!!!

So Pam contacted me to see if I would assist her in a little girls shoot and I said - UH YEA, if you let me create a tea party table-scape for them, and she jumped on it. So off I went to Hobby Lobby and that was all she wrote folks, let the fun begin!!

I had so much fun with this, everything from helping Jessica pick outfits for the little girls, to setting up, to chasing them around the park trying to get them to go back to the tea party. Note to self...Tea Party props can be very distracting to a 2 & 3 year old! But that was part of the fun, watching them look over everything and then go for what excited them the most....the gerber daisies!! :) And did I mention I had cookies and apple juice ready for bribery??? It came in very handy! :)

So not only does HEA Weddings organize and plan weddings and special events, we will gladly style a photo shoot for you, your children, family, etc. We love creating moments that turn into beautiful memories.

Happy Planning!





Thursday, November 5, 2009

Behind Every Bride...


I couldn't be more excited to tell everyone about a new publication coming to the Peoria and surrounding areas called Behind Every Bride, or BEB for short. Sara O'Shea, the founder of BEB has been working so hard getting as many fabulous vendors to be a part of BEB as possible and I know she has had a great response for the first publication. I knew the moment I got the info in the mail, that this was the magazine for me! And I know so many other wedding vendors in the area felt the same way.
BEB is going to be an amazing resource for area bride's and groom's as they search for their perfect venue, florist, photographer, planner, etc. This wont be your standard wedding guide full of advertising, it will include fabulous articles written by the local vendors themselves. Not to mention Bridal Shows and one very informative website.

If you would like to receive a copy, please email me and I will send you one as soon as they are ready. Trust me, you wont be disappointed....it has a style all of its own (which I love) and I couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of it!!


Happy Planning!!!