Happy Mothers Day!

To all the very awesome & great mommies out there we would like to say happy mother's day, take a load off and let someone else be responsible for the world today!

E3 Event’s Tamara Martin-Harris

A few weeks back we were so delighted when we had the opportunity to celebrate the much anticipated arrival of the new addition to the Harris family. We wanted to share a few images from their baby shower.

A Special Thank You to Romano's Bakery and Trinity Event Staffing.

Playing on Pinterest

While browsing around on Pinterest we found this amazing fathers day craft. I know we are a little early but if your DIY skills are lacking you’ll need it!

                                                         Image courtesy of craftholicsanonymous.net

Happy crafting!

Summer Fun

Here are some really cute ideas for your backyard summer parties. This is our favorite time of year; well those of us that manage to brave the Texas heat! We wanted to share one of our favorite backyard summer party themes.

Lemonade Tea as a signature drink (Served Virgin or Toxic), on this very attractive rustic adult lemonade stand.

For a centerpiece consider using a wood inspired vase, oh how we adore this natural look.

 

Images courtesy of houzz.com and southern wedding magazine

Congratulations to the Class of 2013

Graduation day is one of the defining moments in our lives, it seems so for off in the distance and in the blink of an eye four years have passed.

Congratulations to all of the 2013 graduates, including my mommy! 

Christy

The Toddler Takeover

I was so excited to plan my youngest son Caleb's 1st birthday party, and was talking to a colleague the other night about how when in this business what you mean to be small can easily morph into hundreds of dollars later! I am thankful my husband Alfred always seem to reel me back in. So please enjoy these pictures of my little man's 1st birthday.

I hope you enjoy this glimpse into my sons party and a little planning for myself. I'd like to give thanks to a few good friends. Caleb's cake was courtesy of the The Cake Diva, some assistance with set up from Toni Bowman at Little Things and others who came to the rescue during the toddler takeover.

Dannie + Kenneth Featured in Munaluchi Bridal

We are so exited for our clients Dannie + Kenneth whose wedding is featured in MunaLuchi Bridal magazine. Take a look at the sweet couple.

Thank you to The Amber Studio for such great images!

Save The Date

www.etsy.com/shop/2perfectiondecor

When thinking of save the dates I feel they should in some way reflect a combination of your personal style and theme of your wedding. As I shared with my friend Leslie this morning, if you’re into music send small personalized vinyl records with your save the date information printed on them.  Leslie is also very into home décor and as a decorator (www.etsy.com/shop/lillyhemn) I also mentioned personalized throw pillow covers with “Save the Date” stitched on the font; this would very much represent her personal style and image. Not wanting to leave out her fiancé we talked further about her wedding details and she is getting married in ViVa Las Vegas! A cute way to send a unique save the date would be sending personalized poker chips; this is celebrating the location of the wedding while avoiding overkill of the Las Vegas wedding cliché.

The Future Mr. & Mrs.

 We are so excited about the future Mr. & Mrs. Hopson; I want to personally welcome Dannie + Kenneth to the Swank Soiree family. We look forward to exceeding your expectations and a relationship with you both for many years to come.

A Little Green & Brown Wedding Inspiration

So I found myself setting here thinking about spring 2011 wedding colors and though it funny that most people think spring and automatically you see pinks and oranges. So in honor of all my spring brides that like a more nature inspired look I used two of Pantone's spring colors that are not pink or orange!

What's Your Color?

A few months ago, I was provided the opportunity to attend an educational event where speaker Sasha Souza, a celebrity event planner from California spoke on many different topics. One topic in particular stuck with me: The psychology of color.

In wedding and event planning, color is very important. It’s one of the first things that we consider when we begin designing an event. Colors people choose are generally tied to who they are and reflect personality, emotions, and allow us to learn more about our client’s personal taste and style.

My color is Violet, the color of luxury, sensitivity, passion, and depth of feeling. Violet speaks to someone creative and artistically talented with a complex personality.

Will you marry me?

Ok guys this one is for you. Are you ready to pop the question? Have a few concerns? Have no fear Swank Soiree is here!

10 Dos when asking your girlfriend to marry you:

1. Do test the water: We don’t hop in the shower without making sure it’s warm so why ask her to marry you and not have a clue what’s in her head. You should at least have talked about the possibility of marriage.

2. Do talk to her parent(s): Although times have changed and we no longer feel as though we HAVE to ask for her hand in marriage; there is something about a man who has enough respect to ask.

3. Do find the right ring: Many women are very particular about what they like and desire in a wedding/engagement ring. Pop into a jewelry store when shopping at the mall together and brose some rings or in-list her best friend, sister or mother to help you shop.

4. Do be prepared: Practice! As silly as it seems as the day draws near you will become more and more nervous to say those four words “will you marry me”; let’s make sure you don’t get tongue tied.

5. Do drop to one knee: There is something so romantic about a man dropping to one knee; it makes us feel like royalty and gives you extra points!

6. Do tell her why you want to marry her: instead of just asking tell her why she is so special that you want her to have your last name. Explain how she inspires you to be a better you, makes you feel like gold and keeps a smile on your face.

7. Do make it a surprise: now while we suggest you test the waters don’t test them the day prior or in such a way you have her thinking its coming. The marriage proposal itself should be a surprise so find a time and place she won’t be suspecting.

8. Do pick a meaningful place: Think about the things that are most important and intriguing to her. What makes her heart smile, what are romantic places that you have shared during your dating?

9. Do be creative: You’ll want to incorporate her favorite, things, places and foods and for some, favorite people.

10. Do call Swank Soiree for assistance: If you would like some help Swank Soiree offers proposal planning services that can be tailored to fit most budgets.

Oh Baby!

Friends say I have always had a thing with thinking that pregnant women are just so cute. So it comes as no surprise that I Love planning baby showers. Some of our first time moms ask questions like when should they have their baby shower and who should host it. The answer to both is pretty simple, your shower can be when you desire but it is suggested you have your shower between your 30th and 35th week of pregnancy; anytime after your 35th week and your cutting it to close to your due date.

For the host of the shower traditionally it should be someone outside of the family, but that tradition has been ignored for many years. Your shower can be hosted by anyone that offers.

Consider these creative baby shower ideas:

Where the wild things are
Sugar & Spice
Sweet Pea Baby
Earth Momma (For our green moms to be)
Alphabet Baby
All in white

Have a fight, go on get mad!

At Swank Soiree while getting you down the aisle with ease is the main goal we also love to see a healthy, happy ever-after! So it’s only natural that when we stumbled upon an article in Brides Magazine August 2010 issue entitled “Want a healthy marriage?” we had to blog about it. SO put on your fighting gloves and read on!

Have a fight, go on get mad!
Contrary to what most people (especially single people) think a certain amount of conflict is necessary to help couples weed out problems that can harm a marriage in the long run, says John Gottman, Executive Director of Seattle’s Relationship Research Institute. SO go on fight but let’s try to use these tips to fight fair.

1. Speak in a low, quiet voice.
2. Look your partner in the eyes: Keep arms and legs uncrossed.
3. If needed, take a time-out to collect your thoughts and calm down.
4. Use phrases that clarify the situation, “it sounds like your saying”.
5. Start sentences with nonthreatening words and phrases, such as “maybe…,” “what if….,” or “ I wonder…”.
6. Speak affirmatively.
7. Ask open ended questions: “what are your thoughts?”


Fight Club: Top reasons, in order, for arguing with a spouse:

Women –
Children
Housework
Money
Men –
Sex
Money
Leisure


To read more on secrets to a great marriage follow the link below.
http://www.brides.com/wedding-dresses-style/2009/09/secrets-to-a-great-marriage

Everybody Loves A Baby

A baby shower is a celebration associated with pregnancy and childbirth that is both ancient and enduring. Like other rites of passage associated with significant transitional events such as coming of age and marriage baby showers function as a type of initiation into, and a construction of, a new state of being--in this case, “motherhood.”

It is customary when a family welcomes a new child into their home that family and friends shower them with gifts to help them on their way and make the new responsibility of parenthood a little bit easier and add more joy to one of the most celebratory events in a couples life.

I days of old it was customary that a family received one shower for their first child and that was it. But a new trend that has become more popular in recent decades is for a family to have a shower for each pregnancy. Many people frown upon this and see it as an act of greed while other cultures love the idea and see childbirth as an occasion that should be celebrated repeatedly rejoicing with the proud parents to be.

How does your family welcome little bundles of joy? Are you more traditional in celebrating the birth of the premier child only or do you commemorate subsequent births with as much joy and happiness and gift giving as the first? Are baby showers held prior to birth or do you wait until the child has been born so family and friends can surround the new one with love upon their arrival? Share your thoughts with us, we would love to hear what it on your mind.

Swank Soiree

To Dress Or Not To Dress

With the global economy in such a disarray, people are trying to save money any way possible. But being too creative with your event budget can sometimes be a risky game to play. On WE TV’s Girl Meets Gown, sisters Lindsay and Lauren decide they will take their $3000.00 dress budgets and combine them and share a single wedding gown. This would allow them to purchase an in season couture gown verses having to purchase a sample gown or find one on sale. In a day and time where most brides have a costume change before or during their reception the idea of sharing your gown is seriously farfetched.

The biggest dilemma in a situation like this is agreeing on the perfect dress. Even sisters who wear the same size and are the same height may not have the same vision when it comes to the perfect gown which is what happened in this case. Long story short the girls opted for separate dresses which left one sister with a much smaller budget but in the end both girls were happy.

What lengths are you are willing to go to in order to cut costs for your special day or do a have a sky is the limit budget? Would sharing a dress, renting a dress or even purchasing an already used dress be an option for you or will you be one of the lucky brides who has multiple dresses for your special day? Share your thoughts and ideas on this topic. We would love to hear from you.

Swank Soiree

Moms, Dads and Grads

Over the next few months, many of us will be focused on spending time with our moms on Mother’s Day showing them how much we love them, fathers on Father’s Day showing them how much we appreciate them and graduates during their graduation ceremonies to show them how proud we are of them.

At Swank Soiree we like to take things a step further to show the Moms Dads and Grads in our lives how much they mean to us with an event or outing they will not soon forget based around family tradition.

We would like to hear how you celebrate these wonderful occasions with the ones you love.

Swank Soiree

Sixteen Candles

The MTV television show My Super Sweet 16 has brought forth a rebirth of a very old North American tradition. Sweet sixteen parties were originally hosted by parents as a coming of age celebration for their daughter(s). Tradition shows a party was given where a young lady would be introduced to family and friends as a woman and during the party the guests were entertained by a father daughter dance and candle ceremony as outlined below.

Each of the 16 candles holds a special meaning:

•The first candle is for the girl's parents.
•The second candle is for the siblings. (If there are no siblings, then this candle can represent the grandparents.)
•Candles 3, 4, 5 and 6 are for the rest of the family members.
•Candles 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are for friends.
•Candle 15 is for the girl's best friend or friends.
•The 16th candle is for a significant male, such as a boyfriend or good friend.
•Some add a 17th candle which represents good luck

Although there is no set protocol for a proper sweet sixteen, it seems as if the traditions of old have been tossed out of the window and today’s sixteen year old girls and boys seem to be more interested in throwing the most extravagant parties conceivable with the intention of conveying to their party guests how opulent and limitless their lives are. Candle ceremonies have been replaced with fireworks and laser shows or uplighting and the father daughter dance has been replaced with performances by the host taking full advantage of their moment to shine.

How would you describe your sweet sixteen party? And what are your views on parties parents are hosting for their children with event planners, costuming, catering and even celeb performances?

Please share your thoughts, we would love to hear what is on your mind.


Swank Soiree

Planning Outside The Sand Box

While putting together a party for small children one can come across a few stumbling blocks while in the early planning phase. One of the most difficult tasks is creating an event theme that not only appeals to children, but also appeals to their adult escorts aka mom and dad.

When giving a party for children, is important to entertain the adults who are attending as well as the little VIPs. If so, what are some good ways of incorporating adults into the parties activities.

SS

Perfect Venue

Making the right choice when selecting a venue can make or break your event. There are many factors to consider when deciding on a location that best suits the vision you have for your event.

Finding a setting that is a wonderful fit and suits your budget should be first action item on your to-do-list. The best way to ensure you obtain the venue of your choice on the day you desire at the best possible rate is to work with your coordinator as early as possible to lock down a location. Having your coordinator with you to negotiate BEO or contract details will take the difficulty out of planning your event.

The Swank Soiree staff members work to develop long lasting relationships with a number of vendors here in the Dallas Fort Worth area and can make this process easy and enjoyable. Not only are the Swank Soiree staff members experienced in this area, it gives us pleasure to assist you in the process.

Has there ever been a time where you attended an event, whether it was business or pleasure where you could tell there was not much thought or consideration placed on the location? What would you have done different?

We would love to hear from you.

SS