Steph and JJ: April 19

I had the pleasure of planning the wedding of Stephanie and JJ at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk. It was a great event that merged two very different families. I loved their colors (Blue and Orange)...her attention to detail...and most importantly the love of Stephanie and JJ shared. Steph and JJ had to move San Diego right after the meeting and I sure am gonna miss them! Congrats Scholten's!

Nicole & CJ

I have the honor of planning the wedding for Nicole and CJ this upcoming September. They live in Chicago but came back to their old "stomping grounds" for a fun engagement shoot with James Christianson Photography. I am really looking forward to the wedding and all of the little details that have been put into it...I'd elaborate but then nothing would be a surprise. You'll have to check back for more details!

By The Way... This first picture is where they met. I love it!

I'm a Bridesmaid...What's my Job?

Let's be honest...I'm obsessed with a great Bridesmaid's (notice I didn't say Bridal) Boutique out West called Twirl...and a few months ago while blog stalking I read a great little article about the jobs of a bridesmaid. While, I have been a bridesmaid several times in my life and even a bride (I've only done that once) I thought Keri from Twirl put it best. Now it's your turn to read it, direct from the Twirl Blog...


Put on your dress, grab a bouquet, and stand next to the chick in white for about 20 minutes- that’s all there is to being a bridesmaid, right? Oh so wrong, lovely ladies. As a bridesmaid, you have an important role – and not just for a day. From the time you are asked to be in the wedding, to well after you see those two off to their honeymoon, you have a job that includes responsibilities. This isn’t your typical 9-5 cubical gig. It’s fun and rewarding, so make it your goal to be a BM SUPERSTAR.
Here are 15 quick tips to get you off to a good start. We’ll go more in-depth on some of these in future blogs, so check back with us regularly.
Attitude and Behavior
1) Respect your bride’s taste and vision, even if they don’t match your own.
2) Be gracious at all times.
3) Be a friend first, a bridesmaid second.
4) Never be the “drunk chick” who guests are talking about a year later.
5) Be supportive of your bride’s decisions regarding your attire, who you walk with, where you sit at dinner, etc. Avoid complaining at all costs.
Fashion
1) If your bridesmaid dress isn’t your favorite color, make up for it with a light spray tan. Make sure to go to a professional – the orange bridesmaid is not a good look.
2) Wear wedge shoes if the wedding is in grass or sand, or go barefoot in the sand.
3) Whether you are a size 2 or 20 – buy Spanx .
4) Have dresser cups sewn into your dress instead of wearing a bra – they are much less expensive and much more comfortable.
5) Be ‘fresh’ for the wedding – get a pedicure, have your roots done, wax, shave, etc. You’ll look and feel even more fabulous!
Duties
1) Take an active role in throwing your bride a shower and bachelorette party.
2) On the wedding day, ask what you can do to help your bride stay calm and relaxed (ie: Keep the MOB or MOG at bay, pour her a glass of champagne, check on the groom and groomsmen, pass out any last minute checks or cash envelopes to vendors, etc.).
3) Be organized and on top of things you are asked to do like ordering your dress, buying shoes, and making your hair appointment.
4) Be the first to RSVP for her wedding!
5) You will need to buy three gifts: Bridal Shower, Bachelorette Party, and Wedding. Plan ahead so you’re not spending your money all at once.

Go get ‘em you BM SUPERSTAR!
-Keri

Natalia & Joe: The Day Finally Arrived

If you are a follower of the Antonia Christianson Events Blog you probably remember reading about my good friends Joe & Natalia. Well...after 18 months of planning the big day finally arrived this past weekend. Joe and Natalia were married at Epworth United Methodist Church in Norfolk and then our 200+ guests hopped on trolley (a little reminder of the beach) and headed to the Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center. The day truly went off without a hitch and I was honored to be a part of the glorious day. Below are some amazing images from my good friend Kelly Lee ...both Kelly and I were booked together on this event over a year ago so we were both really excited to see everything come together so nicely. These images are just a snippit of the day so make sure to check out Kelly's blog every so often to see more pictures.

Of course, I'd like to mention everyone that helped out with the big event...and excuse me if I forgot anyone. Let's see: Debbie Pence with Fluttering Flowers, Jeremy Kilgore with Blue Steel Pro Lighting (his services really brought everything together), Megan Pence (our nanny for the event), Louise & Kate from Cuisine and Company, Strictly Bizzness (and MMG), a beautiful cake (make that 2) from Carolyn Neal, Venture Tours, Lynn & Sunmer for AMAZING HAIR & MAKEUP...and of course Thomas Newman (and staff) at the venue.

Bay Creek Marina

A few months ago I head the pleasure of visiting BayCreek Marina on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with my client Mandy, my best friend Melanie, her fiancee Beau Womble (the great photographer behind these pictures) and Debbie Pence, a great florist and MOB. We knew that Mandy would definitely be getting married at the resort but Melanie and Beau were along at the beginning of their wedding venue search.

I had been looking forward to visiting the marina and checking out their reception venue/restaurant called "Aqua". There is definitely a cool vibe about this place, lots of water, beautiful "beachy homes" and an award winning golf course...oh, and did I mention their wonderfully long pier that is perfect for wedding ceremonies.

Below are some shots of Bay Creek and "meeting time"... I am really looking forward to both of these fall weddings that are quickly approaching.

Debbie Pence, Mandy and I discussing flowers:



They are going to have a 250+ foot aisle runner...we were discussing its ending point:

This great room is upstairs from "Aqua", perfect for smaller receptions, rehearsal dinners or showers with a great view:
"Aqua" the restaurant and reception venue at Bay Creek:

Blogging Bootcamp Coming to Virginia!

I have the great honor of hosting Liene Stevens from Blue Orchid Designs and
The Smart Planner™ in Norfolk for a limited seat engagement. Liene is traveling the nation sharing some of the secrets to her successful blog to a limited number of wedding professionals and Hampton Roads has the great honor of listening to this national wedding phenom.

The Program:
You already know why you should blog. We'll show you how.
Blogging Bootcamp
Who: Any wedding professional who wants to effectively leverage online
media to grow their business
When: Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
Time: 9 am - 4 pm
Where: The Studio of Scott Hayne Photography
Cost: $150 per person

Since the launch of the Blue Orchid Blog in 2006, it has grown to include
over 3000 unique daily visitors and is partially to credit for the launch of
two new Blue Orchid Designs offices on the East Coast. In the Blogging
Bootcamp, Liene will share specific strategies and techniques she has
personally used to grow the Blue Orchid Designs blog to where it is today.
This workshop is open to all wedding professionals, not just wedding
planners. Space is limited and will be filled on a first come, first served
basis so reserve your spot now! Laptops are optional and lunch will be
provided.

Topics covered will include:
*How to discover and leverage your blogging voice
*How to maximize your blogging ROI
*How to develop killer content - consistently
*How to set short term and long term goals for your blog
*How to effectively analyze your stats and blog traffic
*How to increase your readership and keep them coming back for more
*Specific strategies and techniques to use your blog to improve your main
website's SEO or "findability" on Google
*How to promote your brand through your blog's design and content
*Maintaining professional boundaries while still being personable
*And more!

The Blogging Bootcamp will not be a class on blogging philosophy. You
already know that blogging is a good idea. We'll be showing you how to
do it so that it is worth your time. No topic will be off the table, and any
questions you may have will be fair game.

The Presenter:
TheSmartPlanner

Image Courtesy of DarbyElizabethPhotography.com
With prior experience in planning events in the non-profit, corporate and
private sectors, Liene Stevens opened Blue Orchid Designs, an event design
and planning firm specializing in luxury weddings. One of Arizona's fastest
growing wedding planning companies, they have expanded nationally to
include the New York City and Washington DC bridal markets. Liene's
expertise has been sought out by numerous publications, including The New
York Times, Conde Nast Portfolio, Washingtonian Magazine, Arizona Society
Magazine, and CNN.

Liene studied cross-cultural psychology at Arizona State University and her
experiences working in developing nations have enabled her to think quickly
on her feet. While serving as one of the executive directors at an international
non-profit, Liene received specialized training in leadership, crisis
management, teambuilding, as well as conflict resolution and mediation.
In addition to planning stylish weddings and events through Blue Orchid
Designs, Liene is the founder of The Smart Planner, a business coaching
resource for professional wedding consultants. Event planners from around
the world have credited Liene's strategic mentoring with increasing their
profit margins and improving productivity goals. Her first book is scheduled to
be released Spring 2009.

Liene is honored to serve on the board of directors for the Pink Initiative, a
non-profit organization comprised of wedding industry professionals
dedicated to funding a cure for breast cancer. Liene is also an ordained
minister and is known for her patience, flexibility, humor and the genuine
friendships she forms with her clients.

Liene Stevens is the founder of Blue Orchid Designs, a wedding planning firm
with consultants in Arizona, New York and Washington DC. Since the launch
of the Blue Orchid Designs blog in 2006, it has grown to include over 3000
unique daily visitors, including brides, wedding vendors, national magazine
editors and all of her proud aunts.

Known for her honest and pragmatic style, Liene will share specific strategies
and tips on how to find and leverage your unique blogging voice, how to
consistently develop killer content, how to effectively promote your brand
online and more.
TheSmartPlanner

Click here if you'd like to attend.