More pics....

Katie from Embassy Suites and myself having a little fun before guests arrived! :)
The bar wasnt at 100% completion here, but gives you the idea.

Cupcakes by That's a Cake?

A Tropical Paradise for Angela & Mike!!! (Peoria, IL Wedding)

Mike and Angela were married over a week ago in Aruba...starting to see a theme here...and wondering why I haven't gotten to go with yet..hum! Okay, back to the story here...

Their love for the tropics inspired Angela to have a tropical reception...try to bring Aruba back to Peoria in the middle of January. This was HEA's first themed reception and you can bet I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted guests to feel like they were on the beach..long tables, bamboo tiki bar, white folding chairs..green palms, blue water...everything Aruba has to offer...minus the sand...darn it!!!

There were even goldfish, which ask anyone...we were all a little nervous about. But there was no need to be, it all worked out perfectly. They all made it home with Angela & Mike to their new fish aquarium...SHEW!

The evening started like this....Guests arrived, found their sand dollar place cards, signed the AMAZING picture the bride's father painted, and made their way into the reception room, where it was lit in beautiful shades of blues and turquoise. As the time neared 6:00, the lighting gradually changed from blue to yellows, golds, and oranges...just as a sunset would. Then promptly at 6:00 the video started of the wedding ceremony....it was beautiful! As soon as the ceremony concluded, the Bridal party was announced and entered the room...perfect execution!

Dinner was served...Chicken, shrimp, and steak kabobs over rice, fresh fruit, and coconut cupcakes for dessert.

I personally loved every detail of this reception...and when the father of the bride showed up with the most amazing paintings for the entrance and by the bar, I wanted to jump for joy..and I think I did! So a special thanks to Mike Baxter for his amazing talent, what a gift!

This night couldn't have been pulled off if it weren't for all the fabulous vendors involved...

-Heaven on Earth for the centerpieces and Bamboo bar

-Sound & Light Creations for lighting and DJing

-That's a Cake for the cupcakes

-Save the Date - square top table

-Let's Party - white wooden chairs

-Pam Cooley for coming to shoot detail shots on her husband's birthday, she even drug him with. Such a dear friend you are, THANK YOU!

And to my awesome team who worked tirelessly with me all day and into the wee hours of the morning tearing down...love you gals!!

And a special thanks to Angela, Mike, Lorrie, and Neil for trusting such an important day to the HEA team, we hope we made it a night you will never forget....I know we wont!

Sneak Preview - Floral Fashion Shoot - Winter 2010

Just a few pictures to share from the Floral Fashion Shoot. Heaven on Earth created some amazing bouquets...some traditional and some that were fun and trendy. We had several photographers shooting in different locations, it was a whirlwind of a day, but the end results are amazing. Thanks you Deidre Lynn for these amazing pics...for more go to http://www.h-e-a.biz/, click on "galleries" and then Floral Fashion Shoot. There will be more amazing pics to come from Jeff Woods and Nellie...so stay tuned! And thanks to our models (my darling past clients) for breaking out those dresses and hamming it up for us! You were great!!

Winter Chic Reception for Karen & Chris!

The entrance...The Centerpieces
More details...

This has to be one of my favorite receptions of all time...partly because I had such freedom to create! Karen & Chris came to me several months ago and said "We want one really great party for our guests. We don't want a sit down dinner, no first dance, no cake cutting...just a fabulous party...and we don't want to have to do anything!" And that is exactly what they received! Karen & Chris AKA "Critter" were married in Aruba on the beach over Thanksgiving, many of their "formalities" took place there. So back here in Illinois they just wanted to entertain their guests with great food, drinks, and a rockin band! And I cant forget to mention that Ever After Photography went to Aruba with Karen & Critter to capture everything, they played a slide show at the reception, the pictures were absolutley amazing! I hope to share some of those with you at a later date.

HEA Weddings wanted to create a winter chic reception for Karen & Critter, something that would WOW them and their guests, create an experience not normally found at a wedding reception. Food stations were set-up around the room for guests to enjoy and my favorite part...the ice cream sundae station!! Yes it was negative 2 degrees out that night, but who doesn't enjoy ice cream!??

There was open seating using round and long tables along with three bar top tables with bar stools.

The Hey Jimmy Band out of Chicago entertained the guests for hours, they were fabulous! Talk about great music selection......from Motown to Lady Gaga!

It truly was a fabulous night and one fabulous couple!!! And a special thanks to all the vendors that made it all happen...

-Heaven on Earth

-Sound & Light Creations

-I Do Events

-Embassy Suites

-Hey Jimmy Band

-Ever After Photography

-Pam Cooley for these great shots!