Social Butterfly Events

Good things are coming!

2008-10-28T09:09:00.001-07:00

My blog has not seen action for quite some time now but it's not without good reason. I am currently working on putting together a NEW and IMPROVED blog, so hang in there, good things are coming!

Cheers!

Weddings | Vivian & Steve 6.21.08

2008-08-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

I had the extreme pleasure of partnering with Steven and Vivian on their wedding back in June and so I thought I would share the lovely annoucement I received from them in the mail last week!

In the News | Martha Stewart Crafts WalMart Deal

2008-07-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

For you DIY brides in the audience, you will all be over joyed to hear that Martha Stewart Crafts will now be carried at your local WalMart! Here is the official story as written by Mr. Timothy Fields from Brandweek:

MSLO, which is based in New York, announced this week that two new assortments from Martha Stewart Crafts—called Create and Celebrate—will be available at the mega retailer's stores in the U.S. and Canada. The new assortments feature high-quality, easy-to-use products that are designed for the mass retail shopper.

Martha Stewart Create features crafting essentials and memory-keeping products such as paper, cutting mats, tools, pens, markers, glitter and ribbons. The assortment also contains craft activity kits, including jewelry making, pipe cleaner animal kits, party décor and card-making kits.Martha Stewart Celebrate showcases ready-made, paper-based weddings essentials, such as stationery, guest books, favor boxes, cake toppers and more."

With Martha Stewart Create at Wal-Mart, consumers will experience the satisfaction that comes from making things by hand," said Stewart in a written statement. "With Martha Stewart Celebrate, we will be able to provide beautiful, creative solutions for party-giving from intimate gatherings to large celebrations such as weddings."

A Great Night for a Great Cause!

2008-07-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

I was so thrilled to be invited to attend the annual Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Orange County dinner with Christine Saunders of The Spiraled Stem. What was even more delightful, as evidenced by the photo above, was to find we weren't the only Orange County Wedding Pro's there! We were surprisingly joined by Marla Lackey of Cheers to You Events, her stellar assistant Terry, and Caren Lazarus from Design Visage!

I must say, it was an inspirational evening. It was filled with stories of great and long lasting Big Bro/Sister relationships and the great achievements of their "Littles". It really is an incredible organization! Kudos to Christine not only for her great work with the organization, but for providing an incredible number of beautiful centerpieces for a very packed (over 500 people!) Disneyland Ballroom!

A Very Wise Man Once Said...

2008-07-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

Here's to hoping you all have a lovely weekend!

Weddings | Joan & Kevin - 07.13.08

2008-07-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

Good things do come in small packages!

It's a welcome change of pace for this planner to do a small beach wedding, and this one was simply brilliant! The decor was minimal, the food was simple, and the emphasis was all on having a great time! Joan and Kevin welcomed 50 of their closest friends and family to a private beach house in Capistrano Beach for the nuputals. I was able to snap a few pictures, I hope you enjoy them as much as I loved doing this wedding!

44 Women + Carrie Fisher = LOADS of Scholarship Money Raised!!!

2008-06-26T18:55:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, I was the Co-Chair of this year's 44 Women for Children Scholarship Luncheon. For those of you unfamiliar with what we do, you can read all about it here.

This year we welcomed the one, the only, Ms. Carrie Fisher as our guest speaker. She was gracious, fabulous, and had everyone in stiches the entire time she was on stage! I must admit she rattled some of the more conservative cages in the crowd, but she was so hilarious while doing it that I don't think anyone minded one bit!

I am still awaiting final numbers, but my gut tells me we raised more than we did last year, or so I hope!! It was an honor to lead this committee of extraordinary women and to say this was a day I won't soon forget is an absolute understatement!

SBE in the Press | OC Metro Magazine

2008-06-12T17:38:00.000-07:00

Yes indeed, there is a quote in there from me... read and ye shall find!

ABC OC | Sizzle & Chill Event - 06.10.08

2008-06-11T11:51:00.000-07:00

Last night was our wildly successful ABC OC Sizzle and Chill meeting. We had over 270 attendees and our hosts, Invisible Touch / J&M Entertainment really out did themselves. Be very sad if you weren't there as it was a truly brilliant night. One of the many fine vendors showcasing their talents was Red Carpet Photo Booths, and as you can see from the photographic evidence above, the booth saw a lot of action throughout the night. If a picture is truly worth a thousand words, then it's best to say "no comment" on this collection of photos.

Special thanks to the following folks for supporting us in such a great event!

Sneak Peek | Joe & Katie

2008-06-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

Will & Naomie of Henshall Photography were kind enough to send me a few shots of Joe & Katie's big day! I can't wait to see the rest of them!!!

News | Time Magazine Wedding Budget Article

2008-06-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

Time Magazine finally addressed the subject we have all been buzzing about - shrinking wedding budgets. I was very happy to see they advise future brides to hire a wedding planner as yes folks, we can actually keep you from making VERY costly mistakes when planning your big day! Thanks Time!

FYI - Just as I was finishing this post, it came to my attention that The Orange County Register has covered the same topic in today's paper - in the Marketplace section. Sadly, I couldn't locate a link on their site for it, but now you know it's out there!

Joe & Katie's Wedding

2008-05-29T09:01:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure to work with Joe and Katie on their wedding this past Sunday, May 25th. Their ceremony was held at 40 Martyrs Orhtodox Church, and their reception followed at The Orange County Museum of Art. It was a fabulous day, but one that definitely kept me on my toes! So much so, the mother of the bride sent me a thank you note yesterday proclaiming, "You get the award, Kelly, for MOST FLEXIBLE WEDDING COORDINATOR in Orange County!"

My day was so busy I only had a chance to snap a few photos as seen above. Katie played up the whole Orange County angle with using the fruits on her invitation and in the overall ceremony and reception decor. In addition, this wedding is actually being covered for a book about green weddings, so look for more updates on that coming soon!

Of course I wasn't alone in making this event so successful, so I would like to thank the following fabulous folks for their unparalleled professionalism, flexibility, and sense of humor!

Stay tuned to see the "real" photos in a few weeks!

A Wedding in Palm Springs

2008-05-20T20:06:00.000-07:00

Palm Springs can be a little on the warm side in May, in fact, I have even experienced it once or twice before, but nothing really prepared me for the heat last Saturday. I think the last time I checked the temperature that day it was 110 degrees, so I figured at that point there was simply no reason to pay attention any longer and that I must simply get on with the show!

It was such an immense pleasure to partner with Colleen & Mike on their wedding day. The wedding & reception took place at The O'Donnell House, a truly magnificent outdoor venue (yes, you heard me right - outdoors!) that overlooks the entire city of Palm Springs. It really is an incredible view.

I snapped a few photos throughout the day, but will post the real thing once our photogrpaher, Michael Erdkamp, sends them over to me. The fabulous flowers were courtesy of Marcia L. Johnson, and Peter Papadopoulos worked his usual musical magic and kept the dance floor hoppin! As for Mike and Colleen, well, I imagine they are sitting on the beach in Bora Bora right about now enjoying cocktails and a wonderful sunset. I wish you both all the happiness in the world!

In The News | Economy & The Wedding Business

2008-05-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

A number of folks have sent me a link to the following story on MSNBC today, so I thought it made sense for me to pass it along to you all.

Economy sticking a fork in Bridezilla?

M.. I.. C... K.. E.. Y... Why? Because we were invited!

2008-05-14T15:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday found me, and 25 of Orange County's finest wedding consultants at The Happiest Place on Earth! Well, sort of. We were invited to a lovely wine pairing luncheon hosted by the Fairytale Weddings department at The Disneyland Hotel.

Master Sommelier, Michael Jordan (1 of 2 at the Disneyland Resort, and 1 of just 87 in North America) treated us to some fabulous wines and wine education. Most notably, he provided us with the North American premiere of "Magicale" - an Italian Brachetto made in Piemonte, Northern Italy. Talk about good - red, sparkling and served with a personal chocolate fondue. Absolute heaven!! I tried to find some more info on the wine for you all, but there was nothing on the internet, which tells you just how rare this red jewel is!

All in all, a great afternoon!!!

Back from NYC!

2008-04-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Butterfly exhibit @ The Met = Wow!

SBE in the Press | Image Magazine

2008-03-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of being interviewed and featured in Image Magazine this month!

Great things come in small packages!

2008-03-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

I have been a member of 44 Women for Children for just over a year now. If you're not familiar with them, they raise money to support and provide scholarships for the emancipated youth of Orangewood Children's Foundation.

Last night at their annual members cocktail party, they gave out awards to thank those who really made a great contribution over the lest year. They formatted it much like the Oscars, i.e. "Best Producer" etc.

To cut a long story short, they presented me with their "Best Director" award last night for my involvement in all the past year's events and for my dedication to the group and the cause. It took all of me not to cry, but I have to say, it's the best thing I have ever been given.

Is that me in the OC Register?

2008-03-13T08:33:00.000-07:00

Why yes, it is! I happened to stop by The Five Sweets Bakery in Costa Mesa to have a little snoop around, and it just so happened the OC Register was there doing their story. Click here to read it.

Needless to say, I have nothing but praise for The Five Sweets! I walked out with red velvet cupcakes and frosted sugar cookies and both, I am very happy to report, were to DIE for!

I am trying so hard to give up sugar, but I am afriad with places like The Five Sweets, it's a losing battle! Well, I guess there is always tomorrow.

Wondering where I have been?

2008-02-27T10:28:00.000-08:00

So much has been going on I don't know where to start! As of January, I became the Co-Director of The Association of Bridal Consultants Orange County Local Networking Group. Needless to say I am thrilled about it, but I have been incredibly busy updating systems, making changes and getting the members (all 300+!) on board. It's been greatly successful thus far, so I am very happy about that!

In addition, ABC- Orange County, together with the chapters from San Diego, South Bay, and Los Angeles staged a full day of education for wedding professionals on Monday, February 25th. It kept me very busy, but I am very pleased to report we had over 160 professionals in attendance, 6 brilliant speakers, and a good time had by all. If you would like to see photos from this event, just click here. A huge thanks to Lauren Hillary Photography for putting it together!

Now that the education event is complete, you will be seeing more of me via blog! Thanks for your patience, and thanks to those that emailed to check for signs of life!

2007-12-31T09:06:00.000-08:00

My Favorite Christmas Song

2007-12-06T18:15:00.000-08:00

Okay, I know I am showing my age, but this is the best Christmas song (next to Do They Know It's Christmas) made in my lifetime. Enjoy!

Happy Thxgiving

2007-11-15T14:30:00.000-08:00

Just a quick one to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving... and hopefully you have more than 10 reasons to be grateful.

Murakami @ MOCA

2007-11-11T18:07:00.000-08:00

If you get the chance to make it to MOCA, I highly recommend the Murakami exhibit. It was brilliant! Not only do you get to see some fabulous artwork, but for those of you that are crazy about the bags he does for LV, they actually built a Louis Vuitton store into the exhibit so you can buy your Murakami bag onsite! The price tag are nutty, but that didn't stop the ladies from lining up!

As you can see I was sneaky and took a few pics, so please enjoy them...

Horses Love Me... Not.

2007-11-09T10:48:00.001-08:00

I was wine tasting in Temecula a week or so ago and thought I would get some pics of the cute horses that were outside the winery. As you can see by this series of pics, I zoomed in for a cute pic of his nose and the bugger stuck his tongue out and then proceeded to laugh at me. It was hilarious!!!

Happy Halloween Signed Slightly Distracted in The OC

2007-10-31T14:07:00.000-07:00

I have been remiss in my blogging duties, and yes, this is where one would usually find a excuse to explain the absence, but I don't operate at that speed. I vow to be a better and more consistent blogger in future and hopefully Blogger will cooperate with my plan!

In the meantime, I hope you all have a lovely Halloween and please enjoy the candy corn.

Beautiful Flowers & Lovely Company

2007-09-20T15:50:00.000-07:00

I had lunch today with Christine from The Spiraled Stem and she was kind enough to give me these lovely flowers you see here. She has been enjoying a great deal of good things in her career lately, including her being asked to do the flowers for the Green Room at The Emmy's this past week! Needless to say, it's delightful to see someone who is so kind doing so well!!!

Goldhirsh Open House & Wine Tasting

2007-09-12T13:21:00.000-07:00

Saturday, September 8th found me in the Shady Canyon home of Karen & Joel Goldhirsh. They welcomed about 100 of their closest friends, clients, and colleagues to a fabulous open house and wine tasting event. The hot weather has subsided (fortunately) so the evening was perfect! The catering was provided by none other than the fabulous 24 Carrots crew - a big thanks to Heather and the staff for their brilliance! Also a big thank you to The Wine Exchange who successfully managed a tasting that included 3 regions and 15 varietals superbly!

Now you are beginning to wonder why there are no photos, well my technological savvy has betrayed me... I forgot to save the images to my computer before I deleted them. DOH!

Jenny & Fred - 09.01

2007-09-11T09:52:00.000-07:00

I had the great pleasure of partnering with Diane Meyer, the Mother of the Bride, on her daughter's wedding on September 1st. The wedding took place at Sherman Gardens, with the reception at the Meyer Family home in Corona Del Mar. It was quite an undertaking as 90% of the logistics were being handled out of Phoenix, Arizona! That said, Diane assembled a great team and the wedding was nothing short of fabulous! I snapped a few photos, but am awaiting images from Photography by Jane to share with you all.

A very special thanks to Nisies Enchanted Florist and her team, all the fabulous ladies at Wildflower Linens, Kris at Arizona Tent and Karl from Sodexho.

South Park wins The Emmy!

2007-09-10T10:45:00.000-07:00

In a previous posting I mentioned my husband had just completed work on an episode of South Park entitled, "Make Love Not Warcraft". Well I have brilliant news, the episode won The Creative Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program on September 8th!

Congratulations to South Park Studios and The WoW Animation Team for a job well done!!

A lovely note...

2007-09-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

I received a lovely thank you note from The Everetts today so I thought I would share. I was fortunate enough to partner with them on their wedding this past June at The Richard Nixon Library. It was a truly fabulous evening I must say!

It's notes like these, and fabulous clients like the Everetts, that remind me of why I love what I do.

Salute to Jerry Lewis

2007-09-03T08:46:00.000-07:00

Unless you have spent a large part of your life under a rock, you should be very familiar with the fact that Labor Day weekend means it's time for the Jerry Lewis Telethon. Seeing as I have been crazy busy most of the weekend, I haven't been able to see much of it. So if you're as sad as I am that you missed it, here is a brief salute to one of the true kings of comedy...

the ultimate bridal event

2007-08-05T19:37:00.000-07:00

I joined 100 ladies and brides-to-be for a lovely afternoon at The Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel for their Ultimate Bridal Event today. It was sponsored by American Express and featured the latest bridal fashions from Vera Wang and a trends discussion led by Christopher Aldama.

Sadly I am not a fan of most of the designs we saw as I feel Ms. Wang has taken the greek goddess inspiration a little too seriously. That said, I must say that some of the fabrics were absolutely amazing.

To briefly summarize the trends discussion, Christopher really emphasized the importance of making your event your own. Even if that means serving hot dogs along side haute cuisine - the rules are there to be broken, push the envelope and have fun with it.

Sadly there wasn't much to photograph, but I managed to get these few images to share with you... enjoy.

wolfgang puck green weddings event: 07.31

2007-08-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

Last night found me flying up the 5 freeway into Hollywood to help celebrate the launch of Wolfgang Puck's Green Wedding Catering biz. The event was held at The Annex at Hollywood and Highland and was sponsored by The Bridal Bar, Classic Party Rentals, Hello!Lucky Invitations, TicTock Couture Flowers, ELS Lighting, Robert Evans Studios to benefit the lovely folks at Tree People. Being a vetran of such events, one usually plans to eat before hand as you never know if there is going to be anything good or anything left once you arrive. That was definitely not the case last night, the food was outstanding with plenty to go around.

The decor was lovely with the lighting (for me anyway) really taking the center stage. They used computer controlled LED lighting that was absolutely fabulous. The lights changes every 10 minutes or so and really turned this space into something remarkable. Have a look through the photos and see for yourself.

mike & erin: 05.26.07

2007-07-25T18:15:00.000-07:00

I am so pleased to be able to share these images with you before they go up on my website. They were shot by Louis Felix at the lovely Rancho Las Lomas. It was one of those nights I was truly sad to see come to an end...

A big thanks to all the fabulous vendors, my lovely assistants B & L, without whom... and I would like to wish mike, erin and their families all the best....

Please enjoy!

michelle & sy: 06.30

2007-07-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

I had the wonderful honor to assist in the planning of Sy & Michelle E's wedding on June 30th. The ceremony took place at Holy Family Cathedral in Orange, with a reception that followed at The Richard Nixon Library. Robert Plotz, the photographer on the day, was kind enough to share this lovely image of the happy couple with me. It was a lovely evening and I wish them both every happiness... A special thank you to Jason's Catering, Vive Entertainment and Elysium Productions for their brilliance.

Preston Bailey just couldn't resist!

2007-05-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week Bride and Bloom magazine held their launch party in the Cooper Design Space in Downtown LA. It was a fabulous evening, the decor was lovely and the food (thanks to Good Gracious Catering) was tremendous. The highlight of the evening was a short presentation by Mr. Preston Bailey, which I actually missed, but I more than made up for it as you can see by the photo above! Thanks for the smooch Preston!

how does my garden grow

2007-05-06T16:22:00.000-07:00

Finally, after months of waiting, the orchids in my front garden

decided to grace me with their beauty.

Cleaning out my pockets...

2007-05-06T09:59:00.000-07:00

While working weddings, it really is amazing how much stuff you shove in your pockets over the course of the day. I had the pleasure of working with Barbara Wallace on a spectacular wedding last night at The St. Regis, and amongst the interesting bits I found in my pockets this morning was this test shot I took of Barbara with a polaroid camera. The other items I found weren't nearly as noteworthy, but suffice to say, I do not know why or how 3 un-used Mighty Leaf tea bags made it into my pocket.

Weird.

Happy Sunday!

Meet your Orange County ABC Steering Committee

2007-04-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

Karen French was kind enough to snap this lovely pic of the ABC Orange County Chapter Steering Committee, version 2007, at the event Square Root hosted a few weeks back. I am very excited to be working with this group of ladies and look forward to a great year on the committee.

Public Service Message - Lifelock.com

2007-04-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

Stop Identity Theft & Junk Mail?! AWESOME!

This has absolutely nothing to do with events, but it's an incredible service. So incredible the CEO posts his Social Security number on the website. Check it out, protect yourself and possibly save some trees in the process!

www.lifelock.com

Mad For It!!

2007-04-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

FINALLY! It was one of my favorite shops in the UK and I was always so jealous that the East coast had them and we didn't out West. Well now the playing fields have been levelled as H&M finally makes it debut in Orange County. Enough of my drivel, here is the official dish courtesy of Splendora.com...

H&M was created for our kind of people- we dress to the nines but aren't embarrassed about scoring a great deal on designer duds. H&M's recipe for success? Decorating its racks with chic threads and accessories at a price that you can brag to your posse about. Lucky for you ladies in the LA area, H&M is opening 2 new stores in SoCal: one at South Coast Plaza on April 12th, and the other at the Irvine Spectrum on April, 13th.
Get your beauty sleep the night before and get there early - at both openings, the first 200 customers will score a cool tee plus an H&M gift card with a value anywhere from $10 to a whopping $300. Check out the new Madonna threads, and make sure to stop back mid-May for the debut of the boho-inspired collection from Kylie Minogue.

WHEN:
South Coast Plaza: Thursday, April 12th, at noon
Irvine Spectrum: Friday, April 13th, at noon
WHERE:
South Coast Plaza stores: 3333 Bear Street & 3333 Bristol Street
Irvine Spectrum: 99 Fortune Drive

Be there or... on second thought, don't be there because that will leave more for me!

GREEN is the word!

2007-04-09T16:54:00.000-07:00

It has become quite the revolution in the US, and thankfully so, Green IS the word. For those of you that don't know, I lived in England for many years in the 90's, and I have to say they (among a few others) have been hip to this for many, many years. Organic food has been available there for years, alternative medicines have always been encouraged, heck, they even have a Green political party. So I feel very fortune to have had the opportunity to see how this can be more than just a fad, I have seen it work well for years, and make such an impact that to this day one of the major political players in the UK government is the Green Party. No joke!

That said, for those of you wedding minded folks that want to try to make a small difference, here is a site you need to check out: http://portovert.com - It's packed full of great information and you can even click through to see what your wedding emissions are! You can even purchase carbon offsets to make your wedding carbon neutral.

I am truly looking forward to working with my first green clients - I know you're out there!

Wonderland Bakery is making me LARGE!

2007-04-05T19:05:00.000-07:00

If you haven't, you must. Wonderland Bakery in Newport Beach is out of this world and unfortunately, it is conveniently located by my husband's company.

The cookies come out warm - they have something called a cookies sandwich where you take 2 warm cookies and put a radical amount of frosting in between them - rice crispy treats that are better than mom could ever make - oh, then the cakes. Top that off, they do custom work and have their own line of couture fabulous things to buy.

Just stop what you are doing, because it can't be all that important if you are reading this, and high-tail it over there. The people are as sweet as the cookies!

www.wonderlandbakery.com

The Nail Lounge - Newport Beach

2007-04-03T13:57:00.000-07:00

Here is my hot tip for the week, The Nail Lounge in Newport Beach is fabulous! They probably have the cleanest operation I have ever seen, they host parties (Bachelorette etc.), and (no offense to the acrylic crowd) they only work with natural nails! This unique nail spa needs to clone itself at least 4 times over as it is a very busy place, so be sure to book early!

Here's a link to their brochure: http://www.thenailloungeonline.com/LinkClick.aspx?link=NailLoungeBrochure2006.pdf&tabid=263&mid=771

Check it out, you won't regret it!

Ciao

Mom always said, "The cream rises to the top!"

2007-03-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

I am very pleased to report that I was recently asked to become a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants, Orange County Region Steering Committee! I am both honored by the invitation and very excited about the opportunity.

For those of you that don't know much about our organization, you can find out more at one of these two links: www.abc-oc.net or www.bridalassn.com.

Photo Show Issues

2007-02-07T17:46:00.000-08:00

Pardon our progress, our blog has been upgraded and of course that means that what was there before is no longer visable. LOVE it!

Thanks for your patience!

Highlights from The Wedding Luncheon

2007-02-02T12:16:00.000-08:00

An integral part of The Special Event is The Wedding Luncheon. It was hosted by the beautiful Millenium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles and featured some fabulous guest speakers. I compiled the highlights for you in the following photo show. There are some interesting decor ideas and lovely color combonations to look through. I hope these photos inspire you!

Just follow this link for now: http://www.photoshow.com/view/id4TC9dT

View full size

February already?!

2007-02-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

January flew right by and was filled with all sorts of excitement. One highlight being The Special Event in Los Angeles which basically brought together all the heavy hitters in the special event industry for a week. I learned so much, met some brilliant folks and took many photos, which you can see below! Enjoy!

Just follow this link for now: http://www.photoshow.com/view/wT2Gm2KF

View full size

Happy Boxing Day!

2006-12-26T08:53:00.000-08:00

As you may, or may not know, I spent a number of years in England where December 26th is Boxing Day. For those of you that do not know the history behind it, there are many theories, but the one I heard most often centered around servants and serfs having to work for their lords and ladies on Christmas Day. Because of this, they would get the day after Christmas off and their masters would box up the left-overs for them to share with their families. So as you can see, it really is a working (wo)man's holiday.

I do hope that each and every one of you had a lovely holiday season, and even though I am no longer in England, this working girl is taking one more day off to spend with my family.

Best Wishes!

South Park & Event Planning??

2006-11-29T14:28:00.000-08:00

A bizarre marriage yes, but I had to share this!

My husband is a 3D animator and works for Blizzard Entertainment - makers of The World of Warcraft. It has become a legendary game and has over 7 million players that log in from around the world. Chances are you know someone that is addicted too!

With the game's popularity being what it is, Matt and Trey from South Park decided to have a little fun with it. They debuted their most recent season with an episode entitled, "Make Love not Warcraft" - I have included a clip from it for your viewing pleasure.

Steve's (my husband) department at Blizzard was directly responsible for providing all the World of Warcraft assets for the episode, so if you are fortunate enough to see the entire episode, you will see his name in the credits! Very cool!

Anyway, I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving....

Annual Bridal Consultant Conference

2006-11-16T10:33:00.000-08:00

View full size

I just returned from the 25th annual Association of Bridal Consultants conference in Colorado, and it was brilliant! It was a great opportunity to learn from the masters in our industry and it was great to see all of my colleagues from around the world. I don't want to bore you with too many details, so I will let the pictures speak for themselves!

Paper Source comes to Orange County!

2006-11-03T18:35:00.000-08:00

Paper seems to be a recurring theme with me this week, but let's face it, invitations set the tone for any celebration. They are your guest's first experience of the wonderous event that is to come! Needless to say, it makes sense that we spend so much time and invest so much energy into this part of your celebration.

One of the most magical places for all things paper is Paper Source. Until now, the nearest location for we OC folk was Pasadena, but that has all changed with the opening of the South Coast Plaza store. It is a feast for the senses and a font of beautiful ideas in every price range. If you see something there that doesn't fit into your budget, don't be discouraged, I am in the business of making people happy, so chances are I will have a solution that will work for you!

You're a Card!

2006-10-29T12:02:00.000-08:00

This website is terribly addicting: www.designhergals.com

There you can create everything from stationery to t-shirts complete with a personalized image of your friends or you! The options are endless and the end result is brilliant! So if you are looking for something unique for thank you cards or party invitations, I suggest you give this site a twirl!

Above you will find an image I created of my two pugs and me from the site... Too much fun!

Happy Personalization!

ISES Orange County Chapter

2006-10-18T16:30:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to report that I am now, officially, the founding Vice President of Membership for the ISES Orange County Chapter. The board was installed during our monthly meeting last night at The Anaheim White House. I am feeling very excited to be part of such a fabulous organization and look forward to making our chapter the best chapter in the country!

If you are not familiar with ISES, you can find out more about who we are and what we do at www.ises.com.

Mr. Preston Bailey

2006-10-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday Bloomingdales, together with Martha Stewart Weddings, hosted its annual Wedding Party event at their store at Fashion Island. The event showcased some of Orange County's finest wedding talents, and the guest speaker was the incredible Mr. Preston Bailey! If you aren't familiar with Mr. Bailey, he often appears on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America and has his own show, Preston Bailey Fantasy Weddings on the Oxygen Network. Most recently he designed Donald Trump and Melania's wedding.

Mr. Bailey was charming, witty, and downright hilarious at times! He shared many of his experiences with us and answered various wedding decor questions for many of the brides in the audience. Mr. Bailiey also shared with us that he has created a signature line of wedding florals through 1.800.FLOWERS. In about 6 months, a bride will be able to order ALL their Preston Bailey Florals for their wedding through their service. Crazy!

Mr. Bailey was also there to promote his newest book, appropriately entitled, Inspirations. The book is so new that when I presented my copy to Mr. Bailey for his signature, he announced that this is the first copy he had ever signed! Needless to say, I was thrilled and we were able to capture the moment with a photo. It was a truly inspiring evening as Mr. Bailey was as gracious as his designs are beautiful...

Photo Booths and ABC Meetings

2006-10-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

At our last local ABC Meeting, we were provided with a photo booth by Red Cheese (interesting name, I know!). I cannot tell you how much fun that was. I think everyone piled into it at some point in the evening - including myself, accompanied by James Johnson, photographer.

These booths are getting more and more popular at weddings and events and I can completely understand why. One bride I am working with is actually using it for her guest book and bucking the Polaroid trend. Brilliant thinking!

It's my kind of town...

2006-07-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

Memorial day weekend found this wedding planner on a plane and headed to Chicago! My good friend and colleague, Ali Phillips (www.engagingeventsbyali.com), had a weekend full of weddings, so she asked if I would fly out to assit her - an offer I couldn't refuse! It was a brilliant experience, the schedule was insane and let's just face it, sleep is soooo overrated!

Here is a link to one of the beautiful weddings Ali created that weekend at The Peninsula Hotel... http://www.glenabog.com/kerryandchris/showit.swf

Welcome!

2006-07-17T13:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Social Butterfly Events' blog space! Our goal is to share our weddings and social events with you here! Please be sure to check back often!