Kelli & Jason Featured on GSS....

HEA is so excited that one of our weddings is featured on Groom Sold Seperately. Stunning photos by Pam Cooley Photography! Click on the logo above to see the beautiful post! Enjoy and Happy Planning!

May 21st Wedding....a Little Preview

Kelli and Jason were married on May 21st in Peoria, IL. I can not wait to do the entire blog post and give you all the details. This bride and her family are so very important to me. This is the third daughter that I have had the honor to work with...they treat me like family, and that means the world to me.

Take notice of Kelli's necklace....AMAZING!!!!!

Stay tuned for more details on this wedding...coming later this week! HAPPY PLANNING!

Something new and oh so much fun.....

Looking for something different than the traditional "guest book"? Or perhaps wanting a photo booth, but a fresher look/concept? Then you have to check out this site!!!

Deidre Lynn Photography has just announced "The GuestBooth". Everything is included.... no shopping around for props, not to mention you recieve a DVD of all the edited digital files with rights to print and create your own custom guest book. LOVE!

I can hardly wait to see this for myself!

Happy Planning!

Breath......

Ahhhhh, wedding season is fast approaching...vendor meetings, client meetings, venue walk-thru's, and final design meetings...and the oh so many "Sanity Checks" the last few months before the wedding. I tend to see stress levels increase, even when a wedding planner is involved, so "sanity checks", are a MUST!

Several of my clients are going through "seating chart madness" right now. Trying to get RSVP's back, making the seating chart, someone cancels, someone else is bringing their entire family, plus a few friends...its those things that can really throw brides and their families into stress mode.

Take a deep breath...these things are common and unfortunately happen all the time. I tell my clients that you have to "go with the flow" at this point. Try not to get caught up on these things and lose focus on what really is important....the wedding, the marriage between to people.

Your seating arrangement may not be as you planned it three weeks ago...but will your guests mind who you sit them by for one hour for dinner......no. They are there to celebrate YOU.....to eat, to drink, and dance the night away. So take a deep breath, picture your day, the walk down the aisle, marrying the love of your life, the amazing reception...and let everything else, all the little things.... just be as they may.

Happy Planning!

Engagement Pics..Kelli & Jason

I couldn't be more excited for Kelli & Jason's wedding day and it is fast approaching! It will be an amazing day and one that means so much to me! I can not wait to share all the details, so stay tuned and Happy Planning!!

My Inspiration for change....

HEA Weddings has a new logo, a new look, AND a new blog coming very soon! Stay tuned for some fabulous things!!

A Backyard Wedding in Washington, IL for Dana & Steve...

When my dear friend Pam Cooley called me to ask if I would lend a hand at her friend's daughter's wedding, I couldn't refuse!! Especially when I heard about the ideas and plans...I was IN! All I had to do was show up and let the creative juices flow...and that they did! It was a small, intimate ceremony and reception for 60 people. The bride's parent's home was the perfect location. So up went a tent, strung some lights (that was quite a site to see..Pam standing on tables) hay bales for guests to sit on for the ceremony, long tables with white linens, white wood chairs with burlap, beautiful flowers that I arranged in blue mason jars, and mix-matched china and glassware was the final and perfect touch. ADORED this wedding and how it all turned out!! Pam Cooley did a fabulous job and we had a blast putting it all together!!

HEA Weddings Spring Special!

Are you getting married in March, April, or May 2011? Or know of somebody who is? Happily Ever After Weddings is running a Spring Special for those months only. Contact us today for details! Happy Planning!
-Lisa
lisar@h-e-a.biz

Heather & Jeff - Married September 18th 2010

The day started off with rain and a very gloomy sky...which I have to say was quite a shock, as the forecast leading up said it would be a sunny beautiful day. And luckily, to our surprise, it turned out to be just that!

Heather and Jeff were married at Second Presbyterian Church in Bloomington IL, with a reception at the new Marriott, also in Bloomington. Heather and Jeff were the first wedding to sign with the Marriott, so when Heather first saw the hotel it was concrete and wires....she was very trusting that it would be just what she envisioned for her day...and it was. I met Heather and her Mom at one of my receptions back in January of this year at Embassy Suites. They walked in and loved the room, the layout, and decor...Heather knew at that point that she wanted "that" for her big day. So on-board I was...we tweaked the style and decor to fit Heather's classic elegant style and everything turned out beautifully. I have to say that the best part of the day was this.....I had just gotten to the reception and was putting some items away, guests were outside the room enjoying cocktails, and all of the sudden I hear..."OH...MY...GOSH...LISA!" and you have to know that there was SERIOUS pauses in between each of those words, it was priceless!! She was beyond happy with how the room came together...we all were!

Stunning gold curly willow with white orchids tied on..candles everywhere, gold and dark brown satin linens, gold chiavari chairs, a beautiful candy display, and the fabulous lighting in golds and persimmon brought the room to perfection!

I already have Heather withdrawal....that is the down side of this job! But as I have always said...the bonds that are formed, stay with me for a lifetime!! Our clients are not just clients, they are our family!!

Congrats Heather & Jeff...I and my staff wish you a lifetime of love, happiness, and health!

The Vendors...thank you for all your hard work and attention to detail!!

-Reichman Photography...thank you for this wonderful photos!

-Heaven on Earth...flowers, centerpieces, and chairs

-I Do Events...linens

-White Lily Productions.....videography

-Sound & Light Creations....DJ and lighting

-That's a Cake? ...wedding cake

Happy Planning!!!

-Lisa

Melissa & Nick - Married Sept 4th 2010

I wanted to share some beautiful images by Jeffrey & Julia Woods, from one of our weddings a few weeks back. Nick & Melissa were married at St. Mary's in Metamora with a beautiful reception at The Hotel Pere Marquette. One of those days where the weather was perfect and you can see exactly that in the beautiful images. Adorable couple, and you could see the love and happiness surrounding them that day. Congratulations you two!!!

Brad & Melissa, Married September 4th 2010

What an amazing day this was..... and you can see from the pictures, in the details is where it all came together!

Melissa & Brad were married at Crossroads Methodist Church in Washington, IL. A beautiful service that brought tears to most. Melissa in her stunning Jim Hjelm dress. The Bridesmaids were in different styles of dresses and colors. The groomsmen in black tuxes and "chuck" tennis shoes in honor of the Groom's brother.

This wedding OOZED style...and then led into one of the most fabulous receptions HEA Wedding's has had the opportunity to be a part of.

The reception was at Embassy Suites in East Peoria, IL... and as the guests entered the room, you could see the "awe" on their faces...most walked right past the gift table because they couldn't stop looking around the room.

First, I need to fill you in on a little background of the planning stages so you can really appreciate all the details and hard work that the bride, her mother, and all the vendors put into this amazing day. Melissa had been dreaming and planning her wedding since she was a little girl, and I know that isn't a shock to most...but the details this girl had in her head were fabulous and I was not going to let anything get in the way of what she wanted. Peacock feathers were her theme, but she didn't want anything that anyone had seen or done before. So out came the glue guns and several trips to Hobby Lobby and Pier 1 for Melissa and her Mom. They purchased some items themselves vs. renting because they knew no one would have these exact things. They made boards covered in peacock eye feathers for the candle centerpieces...and never once did they complain, they really loved being hands on.

Then came the vendors to make all the missing components come together....Heaven on Earth with the tall feather arrangements, tall cylinder vases with the feather balls and copper winding around, and all the candles and holders. The beautiful gold trees on the head table that had clumps of green crystals and feathers wired on. And of course the beautiful bouquets that were one of a kind - STUNNING! Beth Maxwell with Save the Date....couldn't have done it with out her beautiful decorative elements....Mirrored top for the head table, the lime green chargers that Melissa HAD to have (that could be a blog post all on its own - she will laugh about this comment, but they truly made the look of the tables come together), and the purple and teal sashes and napkins. Scott with Sound & Light Creations for putting his magical lighting touches on the room, from Pin-spotting to custom gobos's.....truly spectacular..plus the room gradually changed color through-out the night. And my favorite lighting element that night...the head table was flooded with teal light from up above...stunning!!!

The guests had so much fun at the reception, photo booth, two cupcake and ice cream stations, and flip flops for the girls to change into. And of course flat bread pizza's for later in the night. The Menu was top-notch, Embassy did it again, A FABULOUS JOB! And a signature drink that the guests loved called the "Karacourtini"...the bride and groom both lived on Kara Court growing up...hum...a major love story here (that too deserves its own blog post).

And on a personal note, when I was going to high school, Melissa was my neighbor...but I only remember this little girl twirling in circles in the driveway, I would have never guessed that some 15 years later, I would have the honor and privilege of seeing and helping her walk down the aisle to the love of her life. Melissa and her family and I have reconnected in a way that only fate allows to happen. I found some amazing friends in Melissa and her mother, it made that day, even that much more special...and even more sad when it was over. Melissa is one of those people that you want to surround yourself with, her smile and grace is infectious!! And her style..OH MY WORD, this girl OOZES style in a way that makes me look like I need to study up more. :) I honestly think I would pay her to be my friend...that is how genuine and amazing she is! I adore her to pieces and look forward to our friendship growing well into the future!!

Congratulations Melissa & Brad, I will never forget that magical day!!

The Amazing Vendors:

Deidre Lynn Photography - thank you for these amazing photos!!!!!!!

Heaven on Earth

Save the Date

Sound & Light Creations

That's a Cake?

You Shoot Photobooths