New Years Resolutions!

Merry Christmas! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! As the new year approaches (only 12 hours left in 2008), I wanted to share my After the Diamond New Years Resolutions with you…

1. Keep my website up to date! Now that I have a new site, my goal is to keep it up to date with any new weddings and/or information I have.
2. Book 6 - 8 weddings in 2009! (One is already on the calendar!)
3. Update my documentation. I need to review some documentation and make some necessary updates and include my new logo on them.
4. Update After the Diamond Blog at least once every two weeks! I will include some wedding updates and photos from current clients, information on upcoming events in the areas, and some tips or fresh ideas for wedding and/or party planning.
5. Work with Julie (my assistant) on possibly expanding this business. More details to come throughout the year!

I hope you all set some manageable New Years Resolutions as well. If "having the best wedding ever (or event/party)" is on that list… give me a call and I will help you meet that goal!

Happy New Year!

Winter Wonderland

I am not a fan of cold weather, but the winter wonderland wedding this weekend almost made winter my new favorite season. Snowflakes were the theme for Brooke and Joel's wedding. There were snowflake cookies, menus, and lighting. Brooke did a coco bar for her guests… which was a great idea considering that it was only about 20 degrees outside. Her blue and ivory color scheme added to the wintry feel.

The wedding was at the First United Methodist Church of East Peoria. Brooke looked stunning in a white strapless dress with a small amount of lace that wrapped around her just below the bust. She had a cathedral length veil edged with thick lace. Her five bridesmaids wore navy blue dresses, each one different. The groomsmen wore black tuxes with silver vests. Joel also wore a black tux but with a white vest. The church was decorated with a few Christmas decorations, oil candles in every window, and ivory poinsettias. The ceremony ran very smoothly and each guest was handed a sparkler as they exited. When Joel and Brooke came out just as the day turned into night, everyone lit their sparklers. I had been a little nervous about the close quarters and the fire hazard, but it turned out perfectly. I can't wait to see photos from this!

The reception was at the Embassy Suites in Peoria. Everything came together for the reception… the cocktail hour outside of the room included appetizers, a harpist, and quilt squares that everyone signed. Once you entered the reception room, you really felt like you were in a winter wonderland. White chair covers and linens with silver organza overlays made the room very classy. The centerpieces varied from a tall vase filled with silver glass ornaments, topped with a flower arrangement and sparkling silver branches to a centerpiece arrangement of simple white snowflake bags lit by battery operated tea lights. Silver glass ornaments were occasionally found and snowflakes were all around the walls with the special lighting effect. The photographers will be posting photos soon... watch for photos on their blog www.photoblog98.com! The room was unbelievable... truly a winter wonderland!

A big congratulations goes out to Brooke and Joel!