Antonia Christianson Events

2010: A Year In Review

What a year 2010 was! I celebrated my 5^th wedding anniversary with my husband, countless memories with my boys (who by the way are growing like weeds) and we moved our studio to space that more accurately conveys our brand. We helped plan over 30 weddings, an amazing “Pink Martini Night” for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and even had time to throw in a surprise party for my hubby James. Not only has our business grown, but so has our staff. The 2 amazing event staffers and 1 intern that we started the year off with quickly grew to a staff of 6. We were growing so our staff needed to as well! We hit a few bumps in the road but I am so happy with the girls that help make our clients dreams come true every day. They are my team, my friends, and my saving grace in the middle of this chaotic world.

The ACE Team was honored to be featured in Bride & Bloom Magazine in the Spring along with client features in National Wedding Blogs such as Inspired By This, The Brides Café, Uniquely Unveiled (the Weddings Unveiled Blog), Sparkliatti and even Essence Bridal Bliss (the blog for Essence Magazine). We were honored to be nominated as a Wedding Wire Rated Wedding Planner in 2010 and are blessed to be chosen as “The Best Of the Knot” for 2011.

Life is good, business is better...my blessings are uncountable.

I could go on and on about everything that happened in 2010…but I know you just want to see a few of our favorite images...I said, Just a few:

we started the year off right...this event was January 2nd, at the Chrysler. Image: Scott Hayne Photography

Stephanie and Calvin, Lesner Inn. Image: Stephanie Mosher Photography

Ryan and Mike. Peninsula Fines Arts Center. Image: Lissa Hatcher Photography

Rachel and Mike. Fort Monroe. Image: Connie Feng Photography

Michelle and Jerrel. Chamberlin. Image: Kelly Lee Photography

Mary Paige. Bridal Portrait. Trey Tesoro of Trivium Studio

Julia. Chrysler Bridal Portrait. Image: Lissa Hatcher Photography

Jena and Drew. Lesner Inn. Image: Heather Hughes Photography

Chris and Jen. St. Lukes Church. Image: Trivium Studio.

Jamie and Paul. Portsmouth Renaissance. Image: DelHaven Studio

Wedding of Emily and Scott. Upper Weyanoke Plantation. Image: Charles Koeppen Photography

Emily and Scott. Upper Weyanoke Plantation. Image: Charles Koeppen Photography

Da-In and Patrick. Williamsburg Lodge. Image: Eleise Theuer Photography

Audrey. Trash the Dress Session. Image: Lissa Hatcher Photography

Audrey and Marc. After Session. Image: Lissa Hatcher Photography

AnneMarie and Russel. Chrysler Musuem of Art. Image: Lissa Hatcher Photography

Wedding of Tom and Angie. Westin, Virginia Beach. Image: Scott Hayne Photography

Erika and Wes. Lesner Inn. Image: Trivium Studio

Rachel and Nick. Bay Creek Resort. Image: David Schwartz Photography

Meg of Fluttering Flowers. Lindsey, Antonia Christianson, Stephanie of ACE. Image: Echard Wheeler

Favor from Bride and Bloom Photo Shoot. Image: Eleise Theuer.

James Christianson. Surprise Party. Image: Trey Tesoro of Trivium Studio

All Things Yellow. ACE Booth at Bridal Show. Image: Trivium Studio

Antonia Christianson and Rachel. (client and ACE Team Member). Bay Creek.

Image: David Schwartz Photography

Wedding of Nick and Mary Paige. Photobooth by Trivium Studio.

Dana and Nonye. Portsmouth Renaissance. Image: Eleise Theuer.

Have You Seen?

**After publishing this post we found out that not only was Dana and Nonye featured in these two blogs...we also found out that they were chosen as one of the amazing couples featured in "The Best of Bridal Bliss 2010"!

We feel so honored to have been published in two national wedding blogs last week, The Bride's Cafe and Essence Online Bridal Bliss! Dana and Nonye's 600 person wedding took place this past July. They said their vows at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Portsmouth and had a reception to follow at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel. Eleise Theuer Photography was there to capture this special day. We had a great time working with this beautiful couple and wish them many years of bliss together. Many thanks to all of the vendors that helped to make this day run so smoothly...for a full list of vendors be sure to check out the blogs linked in this post.

Rachel and Nick Are Getting Married!!

We are so happy to share with you all another great couple getting married, Rachel and Nick! The two of them met while attending law school in Florida, and after proposing to Rachel at Central Park in NYC, they are now ready for the next step in life. They are getting married at the Mariner's Museum in Newport News on June 4, 2011. It will be a "Southern Affair" featuring two of our all-time favorite colors: Yellow and Gray!! The images below were taking by Beau Womble, who we are very excited to be working with again!

Workout Wednesday: A Holiday Deal

Since Lacey is off from posting on our blog this week to celebrate the holiday...I thought I'd share an amazing membership sale she has going on right now.

You can join between now and Friday, December 24, 2010 at noon and you can become a member of Lacey Lee Fitness for only $35.00 a month...and this includes UNLIMITED Classes. What's even better? You can keep this low rate for as long as you are a member. AMAZING!!

Make sure to tell her that you heard about Lacey Lee Fitness on the Antonia Christianson Events blog!

image found: http://www.weddingaces.com/2010/03/why-starving-yourself-before-your-wedding-doesn%E2%80%99t-work/

Bling in the Season: a Vendor Holiday Party

As of next week Antonia Christianson Events will have officially been in business for 4 years. (and a blessed 4 years at that)...So we thought that this year, we'd celebrate our anniversary, our new studio and our holiday cheer with about 100 of our vendor friends! With the help of our good friend and neighbor Ramone we threw one bang up party!

First, I'll thank everyone that helped make this event AMAZING! Marcy & Joanie from Chef By Design Catering for our fabulous food (no one went hungry), Pike Media Resource for the super fun lights and ambiance, PattiCakes, Inc for our great "CAKE POP" table, Ramone for helping foot the bill and the fabulous pictures you'll see below, RSVP Stationery for the paper products used throughout the event (including our invitations), Fluttering Flowers for the beautiful arrangements, Boardwalk Photobooth Company for the hilarity that ensued in the photo booth, Karen & Alex from Ava Clara Bridal for letting the ACE team enjoy a beautiful dress in our studio...and of course Astro Entertainment for keeping the party ROCKING!

Ok...now onto the fun! The pictures:

Caprese Skewers from Chef by Design

No Holiday Party is complete without warm apple cider

The hilarious Johnny Flex from Astro Entertainment

A quick snapshot of a few of the amazing images in Ramone's Studio. I LOVE his black walls!

The wall leading up stairs to my studio.

Love the blue "haze" when our guests entered the event!

Our hallway downstairs...where all the action happened.

The above 3 images are the great work of Emily Patti with PattiCakes, inc. There was not 1 cake pop left! Loved the display and the flavor was TO DIE FOR!

And now: OUR STUDIO!

A shot of our cozy client meeting area...with walls flocked with event images, inspirational peices, and of course, pictures from my grandparents wedding.

This display board is next to my desk...it's filled with client stationery, inspiration and of course, pics of my boys.

Another little nook in the studio...display shelves, media, and beautiful client pictures.

Now...I know you really only care about the people pictures. So here are a few from the Boardwalk Photobooth Company:

Someone of you might recognize this beauty (and her other half)...Lindsey! ACE Office Manager, Event Staffer, and my sane half!

The One and ONLY Dave Schwartz! Photographic Genius.

3 Hilarious Ladies...and Wedding Pros. Tiffany from Bay Creek, Stacey from the Signature and

Julie from As you Wish

Caroline and Shawn...they own the photobooth and are dear friends of the ACE Team!

My 2nd Family...(from L to R). Merissa Pence: Model, Debbie Pence: owner of Fluttering Flowers and Melanie Pence Womble: Half of Womble Photography

And a few images from Ramone's Fauxto Booth. HILARIOUS!

The two lovely ladies are from Pure English, Helen (owner) and Sarah.

(clockwise from top) Patrice of Bloom the Art of Flowers, Cathy Carter of East Beach Catering, Lacey Lee of Lacey Lee Fitness and Char of Chars Floral Design.

These two well dressed ladies with Ramone are Michelle and Kim from Weddings by Michelle.

2 of my dearest friends...Scott & Adina Hayne of Hayne Photographers.

Finally...my favorite picture of the night. (clockwise from the silly guy in the hat). Charlie Pike of Pike Media Resource, Brooke Bander, Lisa Halstead (dear friend and Komen's Pink Martni Night Guru), Karen Tilley of Ava Clara Bridal, Julie Morgan of As you Wish, Veronica Dana of Veronica Dana Photography (dear friend and amazing photographer that shot my own wedding), Alex (and her hubby!) of Ava Clara Bridal, Stacey Jelly of the Signature at West Neck.

Thank you friends and fellow vendors for your continued support. These images are just a fraction of the people that have supported the Antonia Christianson Events Team through the last 4 years...and we look forward to growing with them as they grow with us.