Where has this year gone?????

All I can say is wow.....I can't believe this year has gone by so fast. This year for 'Intimate Events" has been great and very challenging all at the same time. With the heat that we have been experiencing here in the south, it has really taken a toll on us all. I met with a bride today, and she told me about one of her friend's wedding. In a nutshell, it was a complete disaster. I really wish that all bride's who are even considering hiring a planner would do their homework and research first, but a lot of times this is not the case. If you meet with a planner, and don't have a good feeling about them or just feel like they don't know what they are doing, then guess what???? They probably don't know what they are doing. Take enough pride in yourself, and your day to hire a planner who works well with you, not just someone who works well for the moment. After listening to this bride talk about her friend's wedding, I really wish that the young lady could do her day over, but unfortunately she can't. Bride to be, you only have this one day to have the wedding of your dreams, be sure that you are working with someone that you feel good about, and someone that you trust. And remember, cheap is not always the best. Remember, you get what you pay for, so if you hire a planner for the day of your wedding and they charge you $250-$300, then that's what you will get a "$300" job, and in the wedding world that isn't much. So take your time, have fun, and hire someone that you feel good about. Ask questions, and most importantly, ask them for references. If they can't provide you with references, or answers to your questions, then chances are, they are not worth your hard earned money.

Happy Planning & God Bless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Organization is the Key!!!!

Hello Family,

I hope everyone is in good spirits and is doing well. I cant believe it is almost April already, this year is really flying by. I titled this blog "Organization is the key" because being a wedding planner, organization is what holds you together. But even being a bride who has hired a wedding planner, you still need some type of organization, and you need to have some idea as to what you want. Even if you don't know where to start or don't have any idea as to where to begin, you should at least know the look, feel, and flow that you are going for, for your big day. I say this because I recently had a wedding (that turned out beautifully by the way) where the bride's ideas of what a successful wedding is was all over the place, and no matter what I said or suggested.......I was wrong. I say that to say this, when considering a wedding planner to assist you with your wedding, know that we are here to help and make your day as smooth as possible and nothing less. We don't want to take over by any means, but we do know what it takes to make your day as successful as it can be. I love doing weddings and planning events, this is my livelyhood, and full-time career, and all I want is for my passion to shine through every event that I plan. Whether I am only planning the event, or planning, decorating, and designing from the ceremony programs, to the linen choices I love what I do, and I take it very seriously. This year for "Intimate Events" is very busy, but that's what we love.

Happy Planning & God Bless

Remember This: If God brings you to it......He will bring you through it!!!!!!

Off To A Great Start!!!!

Hello All,

I hope everyone is doing well. This weather has been really crazy, one minute its cold, the next minute its hot....it's really crazy. I am just getting over a cold, and now have a sore throat, but I will be just fine. We recently kicked off our wedding season (February 16, 2008) with the wedding of Franziska & Dan Gidden. We had an absolute wonderful time, and the couple was very happy. Their wedding was very intimate, and it went off without a hitch. We did the PWG bridal show last month, and I just want to thank all of the couples who took the time to stop by the Intimate Events booth, I really and truly appreciate it. I want to stress the importance of a good photographer and videographer to newly engaged couples. Your wedding day is a day that you can't get back, and it goes by so fast that you want to be sure that all of your special moments are covered. So please do not "skimp" on hiring your videographer or photographer just because you think that their fee is to high......that's where your wedding planner would come in to negotiate prices for you (hint, hint) I recently had a bride who chose not to work with one of my recommended vendors, and her pictures were horrible, and her beautiful wedding day has come and gone. Luckily, this bride did choose to work with one of my videographers, and her video is flawless. I am really looking forward to 2008, and many more wonderful years in this business (with the Lord's help).

I don't know what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future!!!

God Bless!!!!

OUT WITH 07; IN WITH 08

Events to the right are from a few of our 2007 weddings!!

Hello Bride to be,

Let me catch my breath, because 2007 has surely been a whirlwind for us. First of all I would like to thank my assistants, and vendors for all that you do. Without you, I wouldn't be able to do what I do, and for this I truly thank you all from the bottom of my heart. 2008, is already starting out to be an awesome yet busy year for us. There are so many new trends in the wedding and event planning industry that I will update you all on, as they come into play this year.

I often receive emails, and phone calls from young women who are interested in wedding planning as a career, but let me tell you; Being a wedding planner is not what you think - it takes a lot of hard work, dedication to the craft, insight and determination. I know that there are plenty of people out there who think they can just sweep in and do what I do....au contraire, my friends. This is someone's very special day.......and to be perfectly frank - it's not for the amateur. Just because you planned your wedding does not mean that you can immediately manage and negotiate multiple events for diverse individuals and personalities. I bring this up because I run across it ALL OF THE TIME. Yeah - It might look easy on T.V. (ie "Whose Wedding is it Anyway", "Platinum Weddings" etc...) but the fact of the matter is simple. It's hard work and it requires a skill set that you can't just pick up in the course of a few months.
All of the weddings my company produced this year took a lot of time, teamwork and knowledge. Which is one of the main reasons couples should hire a professional planner..it's our job to know the ins and outs of it all, so you can sit back and enjoy the day......watch the love unfold around you and relax.

Things to come for Intimate Events!!!!

Hello Bride-to-Be,

The Holidays are upon us, and this is when a lot of engagements happen (along with Valentine's Day) We are so excited about what the future holds for us, we have so much going on. First things first. I am so excited and anxious to tell you all about the launch of our newsletter "The Perfect Planner" this newsletter will be filled with information pertaining to newly engaged couples, and couple's who are in the process of looking for a wedding planner. It will contain the latest wedding planning news from "Intimate Events", trends in the wedding business, do's and dont's for your wedding, vendor spotlight and much much more. This newsletter will be great for brides who want an inside look on the world of wedding planners. Our first issue will be coming out in January, so please be on the look out for it. If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter via mail (hard copy) or email please email me at: JEvans.IntimateEvents@Yahoo.com to start receiving your copy.

We will be attending the "Perfect Wedding Guides: Winter Bridal Show Spectacular" to be held on Sunday January 27, 2008 at the Hilton Charlotte Executive Park, from 1pm-4pm tickets are $10.00. I will also have my floral designer in attendance at this show with me to showcase her unique and beautiful floral designs. I will be handing out very valuable information regarding "Intimate Events Wedding Planning" and hope that some of you newly engaged brides will allow us to assist you with planning your dream wedding. "Intimate Events" will also be featured in the "Perfect Wedding Guide" magazine publication starting in January 2008, so we are excited about that as well.

Our November 10, 2007 bride and groom Ben and Kathleen Aliff will be featured in an upcoming issue of "Carolina Bride", so be on the look out for that as well.

"Intimate Events" would also like to introduce our line of bridal jewelry, "Diva Jewels" bridal jewelry. This line of jewelry is extremely affordable and is designed for brides, bridesmaids, mothers, and anyone else in your wedding party. Please visit our website at: www.IntimateWeddingsandEvents.com to see more of our bridal jewelry and to place your order today.

I am so excited about everything that is going on with my company. I really love what I do, and I thank God for allowing me to do what I love. My brides and grooms are the most important to me, and they always make my job so much fun. I look forward to a wonderful 2008, we are well on our way to 20 plus weddings for 2008!!!!!!

Thank you all, and Happy Planning!!!!!!!

Getting ready for an exciting 2008!!!!

Hello All,

I'm so happy to be blessed to do what I love, and the brides just keep coming. 2008 is going to be a very busy and exciting year for us. We have a lot of weddings booked so far for 2008, and we are continuing to book. I have added a calendar link to the website on the "Services & Packages" page, as well as the "Contact Us" page so brides and vendors will always know our schedule. There are a lot of exciting things going on at "Intimate Events", and good things just continue to happen. If you or someone you know is engaged to be married please have them contact me, I would love to help.

Talk to you all very soon!!!

Happy Planning & Godbless

I.E. News

Hello all,

This year has been a whirlwind for "Intimate Events" and next year looks even better thanks be to God almighty!! We have so many exciting things in the works, that I don't event know where to begin. First of all let me start by welcoming Mrs. Jamie Denapoli-Terry to the "Intimate Events" team, along with Ms. Jennie Brown. We are also in the process of hiring 1 more part-time assistant so we are definitely growing. As of right now we are booked for 10 weddings already for next year, not including the inquiries and dates that we have on hold for brides. 10 may not seem like a lot to some people, but in the wedding world 10 is a good number considering we still have 3 more months left in this year. I am projecting that we will do at least 18-22 wedding in 2008 which is a wonderful blessing from God. In addition to all of this, we have a very special project that we are working on, I don't want to say it right now, but believe me when the project is completed everyone will hear about it, and it will be a MAJOR thing for "Intimate Events". One of the weddings that I have the privilege to do this year (October 07) is that of a local celebrity. This young lady is one of the beautiful ladies who make up the talented gospel group "Serenity" and I am very excited about this. This group has performed along side some of the "Elite" in the gospel industry, like Hezekiah Walker, John P. Kee, and William Murphy just to name a few, and these all are national recording artist. So this is a major deal for "Intimate Events". I will also be making some radio appearances in the near future so be on the look out for that, as well as our quarterly newsletter.

For brides- to -be, remember this tip: "Bridezillas are not born that way, they are made by bad wedding planners"

Thanks, and be on the lookout for the "Wedding Diva", we will make a tremendous impact on North and South Carolina in 2008 and the years to come.

Happy Planning & God Bless,