A Flawless Blog

Flawless Features!!

2011-10-11T17:53:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a great start to the fall we are having! In the past couple of weeks, we have been featured on TWO national wedding blogs for past weddings we have planned.

First, we were featured on WedSavvy.com for the fabulous wedding of Jackie and Tim at the Ringling in Sarasota. K&K Photography's work was highlighted as well as some descriptions of the cute details we helped the couple pull together. Check it out here!

Then, Courtney and Matt's wedding from this past Sunday was featured on the Florida Bride Magazine website. We were so excited to be notified by their photographer, Marissa Moss, and that her beautiful photos were given more exposure. Check it out here!

Meet Kelly!

2011-09-25T08:37:00.001-07:00

You may have noticed an addition to our Flawless team lately and we wanted to formally introduce her. Kelly Brennan has been our fabulous intern since March of this year. We have been so lucky to have her with us for the past 7 months, assisting us with all of our spring and summer weddings.

Kelly is a local girl, born and raised in St. Petersburg. She is currently finishing up her degree in Public Relations at University of South Florida. She has been dancing and playing soccer since she was young. She has also always been interested in fashion and design which is why wedding planning appeals to her. Kelly says her favorite part of wedding coordination is the smile on a bride's face as she walks down the aisle.

We love Kelly because she's personable, she's always willing to go above and beyond, and she's a quick thinker. She also works well under pressure, staying calm and focused. One of Kelly's first gigs as an intern was at a wedding where we had to move 150 chairs to a different location in a short period time. Kelly, with her go-getter attitude, was literally carrying 5 chairs at a time while keeping a smile on her face the entire time. She's such a hard worker and does whatever it takes to make an event successful.

Kelly is being trained to be a full-time coordinator so you will surely be seeing more of her with the Flawless Occasions girls. We are so happy to have her on board!

(Photo credits: First photo, from our team photo shoot, photo by Simply Blue Studios; Bridal portrait, Kelly as a bridal fashion model at our first Brides' Night Out event, photo by Blue Lane Weddings)

Brides' Night Out at Nova 535

2011-09-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

We threw our second Brides' Night Out event last Thursday, Sept. 15th, at Nova 535 in downtown St. Petersburg. What makes our Brides' Night Out events unique? Well, for one thing, they have a girls-night-out cocktail party feel as opposed to your traditional bridal show. Also, we select the vendors involved based on our past experiences with them to ensure that our brides and their guests are meeting the best and most reputable in the area. In many of the other larger scale bridal show expos, any "wedding vendor" can present themselves as long as they pay their fee... so you never know who you may be potentially booking. Our Brides' Night Out events let you mingle with awesome tested and true vendors in a social and comfortable setting.

A huge thank you to all of our vendors involved this time around, and an additional thank you to Carolina and Shem from Blue Lane Studios for providing some awesome photos from the night!

Brides' Night Out vendors:
Flawless Occasions, Nova535, The White Closet Bridal Co.,
Puff 'N Stuff Catering, Ambassador Limousines, ShutterBooth,
Chocolate Pi, Carrie Wildes Photography, Moberg Photography,
DJ Jaey, Room3307, Kyle Lynn Hair and Makeup,
The Bride's Bouquet, Stella and Dot, A Perfect Witness,
Tampa Wonderworks Films, Carters Florist, Paper Presence,
Hilton Bayfront, DJ Fresh, Beach Papery, Thirty-One Gifts,
Calligraphia By Melissa, Planet Beach Contempo, Orange Theory Fitness, Custom Linens

Joy and Matt's Magical Day

2011-09-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

I have known this couple for several years ever since the groom and my husband met in law school. I was so flattered when, just days after their engagement, they hired me to be their wedding planner. I definitely grew closer to Joy as we worked together on the designing and planning of their special day, and I'm so happy that our friend Matt got to marry the girl of his dreams.

Joy wore a gorgeous gown from Demetrios and she and her bridesmaids were made even more beautiful by our friend Cari from Kyle Lynn Weddings.

The ceremony was held at the First United Methodist Church in downtown St. Petersburg, which you may recognize as the same church our former governer Charlie Crist was married in just a few years ago. Pastor David Miller did a wonderful job making the ceremony personal and sweet. The reception followed at the beautiful waterfront Isla Del Sol Yacht and Country Club. The food and service with both excellent and you can't beat the view of the sunset from their ballroom windows.

All of the lush flowers at the church and reception were made by Debbie at The Brides' Bouquet who we always enjoy working with. The couple chose to do all white and deep purple florals with roses, hydranga, and orchids. They had crisp white linens with champagne chair ties from A Linen Valley for a clean and elegant look. The cake was made by Chef Nelson and the couple had 4 different flavors including my favorite, red velvet. We created a cake stand with glass cylinder vases filled with purple gems and LED lights which really made the cake table pop as the sun went down. The mini wedding cake favor cookies were adorable and a big hit thanks to Amy from All the Buzz Cookies.

The guests all had an awesome time on the dance floor with the band Lucky Penny. It was a great party with lots of dancing. A big thank you goes out to Derek from One Point O Video and Cindy from Cindy M Brown Photography who is also a cousin of the groom. Just a few days after the wedding I received these great photos from Cindy - enjoy!

Danah and Aaron's Summer Wedding

2011-09-04T17:58:00.000-07:00

Danah and I went to graduate school together but I had not spoken to her in several years. I was so thrilled when she reconnected with me after hearing I was working for a wedding planning company. Danah and Aaron were preparing for a cross country relocation, and with preparations for their move and busy work schedules, these young professionals needed assistance in planning and executing their big day.

On July 9th, they had a beautiful and intimate ceremony in front of family and a few close friends at Fred Ball Park in South Tampa, followed by a lovely dinner reception in the "Red Room" at the historic Columbia restaurant. Northside Florist created the soft white and light blue florals. Danah wore a JCrew wedding gown and a beautiful blue topaz necklace and earrings which coordinate with her bouquet.
The couple had an ordained friend perform the ceremony which made it extra personal, and they mixed in some Jewish traditions as well. It was a very sweet and laid back garden ceremony. The guests then enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Columbia complimented by a cupcake wedding cake made by The Cupcake Spot.

I got to work with Abbey Saxton Photography again and I'm so appreciative of the photos she sent over to share with us. She really captures those special moments and makes them shine just as they did on the day of. Danah and Aaron, I wish you the best in your marriage as you start your new life together in California. Mazol Tov!!

Brides' Night Out 8.11.11 - Highlight Video

2011-08-29T16:18:00.000-07:00

Check out this highlight video from our Brides' Night Out event at Mangroves on August 11th! What a fabulous night - we can't wait for the next one on September 15th! A big thank you goes out to Derek of One Point O Media for documenting the event!

Brides' Night Out - part 1

2011-08-23T15:13:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, August 11th, we hosted our first ever Brides' Night Out event. This idea came about a few months ago when we were discussing bridal shows and the need for something unique in the area. We envisioned an evening cocktail party with a bridal show twist - basically a giant girls night out featuring some of the areas best wedding vendors in a hip and intimate setting. Mangroves Bar and Grill was the perfect place to host our first BNO event and they got on board immediately, letting us use their wonderful event space and providing amazing food and drinks. We also invited a few of our favorite vendors - Blue Lane Weddings, Kyle Lynn Hair and Makeup, The White Closet Bridal Company, Apple Blossoms Florist, A Piece of Cake, Publix Greenwise, DJ Cory Barron with Grant Hemond and Associates, and Vanessa from Stella and Dot. We really had no idea how this event was going to turn out, but it ended up being even more than we had hoped. We had over 140 wonderful brides-to-be and their girlfriends and everyone had such a great time. There was drinking, mingling, great music, and prizes. We really couldn't be happier. Shem and Carolina from Blue Lane Weddings set up a super fun photo booth that everyone really enjoyed, so we just wanted to share a few of the photos below. More photos and a video montage will be coming up on the blog shortly so stay tuned. And because of the success from our first one, we have added another Brides' Night Out event in St. Pete and Nova 535 on Sept. 15th so check out our website to RSVP! By the way, do you recognize that gorgeous blonde bride in the photos below? It's our intern, Kelly! She's been with us for 6 months now and we love her!! She played model at our Brides' Night Out event and looked fabulous.

Being the Best Bride to your Bridesmaids

2011-08-18T17:35:00.000-07:00

I have been a bridesmaid 5 times. These experiences, combined with my experience as a bride and as a wedding planner, have inspired me to write this post about how to be the best bride to your bridesmaids. These are all things that I did, my friends did when they were brides, or things I've seen our brides do that really made a happy bridal party, which in turn creates an even more joyful wedding day.

1. Keep in mind everyone's financial situation when choosing a dress. Remember, they are most likely going to wear this dress one time so be kind to their pocketbooks and choose something affordable for all.

2. Do not assign your bridesmaids wedding tasks. You chose these people because they are special to you and you want them to stand up with you on this very important day, and that really is the only actual duty of a bridesmaid. They are not your personal assistants. If they offer to help, then of course you can accept; however do not expect or assume they will offer. That doesn't mean they are less of a friend, it just means that they may be busy with work, kids, life, or just not into weddings. Don't take it personally, just continue doing friend stuff with them as you always have and let them offer to help if they want to.

3. Do not require them to pay for professional hair and makeup. Offering it as a treat for them is great and a fun activity for everyone to do together, but if you can't foot the bill, don't make them do it either. If you are not going to provide their hair and makeup services, then the best thing to do is offer them the option of having it done and paying or choosing to do their own.

4. Make sure your bridesmaid are eating on the day of your wedding! This obviously goes for you, the bride, as well. If you are going to ask your bridal party to spend the day in your suite and get ready, make sure you are providing them with food and beverages - they are going to be standing up a lot during your wedding so you want to make sure they feel energized just like you. If you are not able to provide food, then allow them to have some free time during your wedding day to veg out on their own.

5. Don't separate your bridesmaids from their significant others. I've been on both sides of this. When my husband was a groomsman in a wedding, he was seated at the head table while I was seated with some guests that I barely knew. Most of us like to sit with our significant others at a wedding, whether we know other people or not. If you are set on having a head table, then have one that is large enough to seat wedding party members' spouses and dates as well. If you don't have the space for a table that large, then consider doing a sweetheart table and then just seating your bridal party with their dates at regular guest tables.

It's important to keep in mind that you should be asking your closest friends or family to be in your bridal party, so following these tips shouldn't be that difficult because it just shows you care about them. Planning a wedding is extremely exciting and overwhelming, but don't throw your friendships by the wayside in the meantime. A happy bridal party equals a happy bride! Cheers!

(Photo above of me as a bridesmaid at my friend Morgan's Key West destination wedding. Photo by Trevor Goldsmith Photography)

Samantha and Jonathan's Glamorous Vinoy Wedding

2011-08-12T17:45:00.001-07:00

Yes! I am WAY behind on posting...it has been a very busy summer at Flawless Occasions...but I promise, this one was worth the wait!

In May, Samantha and Jonathan tied the knot at one of my favorite hotels, The Vinoy. Everything was amazing but there was one little thing we were not able to control....the weather. Due to an afternoon storm, we had to move the ceremony from the tea garden to the conference hall lobby. Typically, it would have been moved to a ballroom - but Samantha's family loved this tucked away lobby area so much and it truly ended up being a perfect ceremony location full of natural light despite the weather outside.

Samantha and Jonathan are such a beautiful couple. They are so sweet and so obviously in love. Samantha looked like she walked off the page of a bridal magazine. She was truly stunning! She was so calm and easy going the entire day. Jonathan, who looked quite handsome, never stopped smiling and joking while he waited for the most important moment in his life to happen. When you see them together, you just know they are meant to be together.

Stephanie and the rest of the Fishhawk Florist team really stepped up to the plate when the ceremony location changed and quickly helped create a beautiful indoor backdrop. They also customized and created all of the beautiful flowers for both the ceremony and reception. Thanks to Tammy and the rest of the Vinoy staff, we were able to quickly set everything up and alert the guests to the location change.

The bride's brother-in-law performed the actual ceremony which was such a nice personal touch. He did a really nice job and had the guests both laughing and crying.

The cocktail hour and reception were both held in the Sunset Ballroom. A fabulous team of vendors turned this beautiful room into a glamorous room. From the stunning centerpieces by Fishhawk Florist, to the chiavari chairs and the little pop of color (one flower) at each place setting - every detail fit perfectly. The cake (created by the Vinoy) draped with calla lilies looked (and yes, tasted) amazing!

Samantha and Jonathan have two of the nicest families I have ever worked with! They were so much fun and treated me like part of the family throughout the entire planning process. They really know how to have fun too! When asked to do a toast, Samantha's dad came up with a master plan to fake that he was not feeling well , hold his chest, and walk out of the room for a minute. Only a few of us vendors knew this was going to happen and he pulled it off well. So well, that he almost had family members in hysterics! It turned out fine though and everyone ended up having a really good laugh!

There was some serious dancing going on too! From the youngest to the oldest, every guest was on the dance floor the entire night. Of course, with DJ Ben from Grant Hemond - you can not help but dance all night! He really knows how to rock a crowd and get even the shy people on the dance floor. This was a REALLY fun group.

Guests also really enjoyed the props and fun photos in the Shutterbooth! I know many guests visited the booth several times and they always came out laughing and smiling ear to ear. Photobooths are a big hit at weddings and the guests love taking home a fun momento.

With so many fun things , thank goodness Samantha and Jonathan hired CC Video and David from Basia Mille Photography to capture all the great moments! In fact, Basia Mille Photography was kind enough to share all of the awesome pictures in this blog post. A big thank you to David for sharing his work with us! We had so much fun working with him and LOVE the pictures!!

All in all, this was one amazing wedding! I can not say enough wonderful things about this couple, their families, and all the great vendors we had the opportunity to work with. Samantha and Jonathan - It was an honor being part of your very special day. Thank you for treating me like part of your family. I wish you both the best of everything in your life together!! Congratulations!!

Matthew and Courtney's Country Club Wedding

2011-07-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

I had such a great time coordinating Courtney and Matthew's wedding on June 18th. Courtney's mother hired me several months before the wedding to help her tie up loose ends with the planning and coordinate on the day-of. Courtney and Matt currently are living in Tallahassee as they get their post-graduate degrees (she in education and he in law), so Courtney's mom was doing a lot of the leg work for the wedding and needed some extra help.

On the day of the wedding, Courtney and her ladies got ready at her parents' home in South Tampa. Michele Renee Hair and Makeup gave everyone a fabulous wedding look. The bridal party looked beautiful, and I have to say they were all so sweet and friendly and genuinely wanted Courtney to have the perfect, stress-free day. Don't you think Courtney looks just like Reese Witherspoon? When I asked her if people ever say that, she told me she gets that all the time. :)

The style of Courtney and Matthew's wedding was slightly traditional with a modern twist. They were married at Hyde Park Methodist Church in South Tampa. The Jolley Trolley took the wedding parties to the event, which was such a great element for fun photos. The Bride's Bouquet did all of the florals for both the ceremony and reception which consisted of lush roses, lilies, and hydranga in whites and pale pinks. The bouquets looked especially amazing next to the bride's Paloma Blanca gown and the bridesmaids' Priscilla of Boston pewter dresses. In the reception room there were a variety of centerpieces that really brought the room great dimension. They also did the amazing flowers on the cake from Wright's Deli. Debbie and her staff did fantastic job as always - they are such a pleasure to work with and truly are a full service florist.

The reception followed at Palma Ceia Country Club in South Tampa. A1 Foliage provided the pink uplighting and PKS Rentals provided the silver chivari chairs and barstools. The linens by Connie D uglin were pewter pintuck on the larger tables and light pink organza on the cocktail tables. As a nod to the groom's love of golf and the location, the favors were chocolate golf balls on personalized tees - adorable and delicious! The couple chose to go a little untraditional when it came to the reception - there were no assigned seats, a large stations buffet, and a cocktail party vibe where guests could mingle and be relaxed the entire evening. They were formally introduced and shared the traditional dances accompanied by the musical talents of their band, Full Circle. This crowd really partied it up which was great. There were also some special touches throughout the night, such as when the Groom's father and uncle played a song with the band and when Courtney's Chi Omega sisters sang a special song for her (I'm a former sorority girl myself, so of course I loved this).

At the end of the night, Courtney and Matthew said goodbye as their guests cheered them on with pom-pons while they drove off as husband and wife.

For this wedding I was given the opportunity to work with photographer Marissa Moss for the first time. It was so wonderful to work with her and when she sent me these photos, I was really blown away. They are so gorgeous, I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do. Best wishes to Courtney and Matthew, I hope you have a beautiful life together!!

Cindy and Evan's downtown Tampa wedding

2011-07-20T13:51:00.000-07:00

Cindy and Evan hired me over a year ago to coordinate their downtown Tampa wedding on June 11th. This was a semi-destination wedding - the bride and groom and most of their guests lived a few hours away in the central Florida area. Cindy and Evan met while they were teaching at the same middle school and Evan spotted Cindy standing outside of her classroom. As he told me at their rehearsal, he noticed this "hot chick" standing there and said "I gotta meet her". They are an adorable couple with family and friends who love them very much, and I really enjoyed working with them and executing their intimate and beautiful wedding.

The ceremony was held in the courtyard at the Hyatt Regency downtown. This space is such a hidden jewel in Tampa with it's urban park-like feel, brick grounds, and breathtaking fountain backdrop. Cindy wanted the space to feel very modern but elegant, so we had white satin chair covers by Custom Linens and a white arch along with simple white potted mums lining the aisle and area. Evan's best man played double duty by also being their officiant and did a great job.

Following the ceremony, everyone headed over to Jackson's for their dinner reception. Custom Linens created a modern look with their diagnol teal chair sashes and runners, and Scott from Apple Blossoms created zen centerpieces with bamboo, hydranga, and orchids. The cake was very modern too with black designs and amazing sugar orchids that looked so real. Cakes Plus did a fantastic job with the look and the cake was delicious as well. Speaking of delicious, Jackson's did a superb job as always. I really love working at this venue - they always go above and beyond and their food is excellent. The guests especially enjoyed getting to view the summer sunset from the 3 walls of floor-to-ceiling windows in the Waterfront Room.

To capture this fabulous day, the couple hired Tony and Lesley from Reign7 Photography. This was the first time I have worked with this couple and I hope to work with them many more times in the future. They are just wonderful - awesome photos and a calming presence. I was so excited to get to share their photos on our blog!

Cindy and Evan, thanks for letting me share your special day with you. I hope it was everything you hoped for and more.

Christina and Tyson's Selby Gardens Wedding

2011-06-09T07:48:00.001-07:00

We are a little behind on blogging - but this one was worth the wait!!

Christina and Tyson hired our Christina (from Flawless Occasions) to Coordinate their Selby Gardens wedding on April 30th. This was a great match because this wedding had a lot of DIY (do-it-yourself) elements and both bride Christina and coordinator Christina are very crafty. Kelly and I assisted Christina with the coordination and I am so glad I was there to see it all come together first hand. Everything turned out absolutely gorgeous including the weather!

Speaking of gorgeous - Christina was breath-taking in her gown from The White Closet Company. It was the perfect dress for this garden wedding and the bride was glowing. I love the way she added a touch of color with the most adorable shoes! The bridesmaids, who also wore gowns from The White Closet Company, looked beautiful (and comfortable!) in their robin blue dresses. Four super cute flower girls almost stole the show!

The ceremony was held by the Gazebo which is surrounded by very lush gardens and performed by Rev. Rick Lacore. Rev. Rick did a perfect job of personalizing the ceremony for them. While the flower girls almost stole the show, the ring bearer DID steal the show. The ring bearer was Lucy, Christina & Tyson's dog. She was dressed in a little doggie tux and she went down the aisle right on cue. I must say that we were a little worried about how this would turn out - but she was absolutely perfect and very well behaved! The photographer,Johnna Brynn, captured some adorable pictures!! Make sure you check them out on her blog!

After dinner, the guests enjoyed cocktail hour with views of Sarasota Bay and a reception behind the mansion. Affairs in the Air hung lights that added the perfect romantic touch once the sun set. Christina's theme included birds, nests and robin eggs. This worked perfectly with the natural settings. Her cake from Publix was my favorite element of her theme. It was so unique and delicious too!

Dinner was prepared by Affordable Catering and it was scrumptious! After dinner, the guests danced the night away under the stars to music played by DJ Mike from Phaze Entertainment , enjoyed treats from the candy buffet, and played corn hole. The corn hole boards were customized just for Christina and Tyson. Another truly adorable touch that made this wedding personal and fun. The night ended with yet another surprise for the guests - sparklers and a really fun get-away car!

This was our first wedding at Selby Gardens and we truly loved this venue. Dan and his staff were very helpful and the it is a gorgeous place with beautiful views, lush grounds, and several unique event spaces. We hope to do another one there again soon!

Christina and Tyson, the Flawless Occasions staff enjoyed being part of your special day! Thank you for hiring us. We hope you had an awesome honeymoon in Alaska!!! Congratulations!!

Pictures above by Johnna Brynn Photography.

Pictures below snapped by Christina Garatina:

Christmas in July at the White Closet Bridal Company!

2011-06-06T14:21:00.001-07:00

If you are newly engaged or just haven't found "the dress" yet, then save the date for the July sample sale at The White Closet Bridal Company store in Tampa. We love the personal attention and great service that Cindy and her staff give to brides at their salon, and at their sample sale you can get this AND a beautiful gown for 30-50% off the regular price! They are calling it Christmas in July, and it's coming up soon so call The White Closet Bridal Company store today to make an appointment. They will even check to see if the sale dresses are in your size ahead of time. Tell them Flawless Occasions sent you! See their flyer and some sample dresses below!

Do I Really Need a Wedding Planner? from Weddzilla

2011-06-05T11:49:00.000-07:00

The Weddzilla blog posted a nice little article about why brides should hire a wedding planner. Here is an excerpt, and you can click here to view the article in its entirety.

Here are some typical thoughts you might have when considering whether you need a planner:

1. I can’t afford it.
2. What will you do that I can’t do on my own?
3. My sister, friend, mom said they will help me with everything.
4. The venue will coordinate the wedding for me.

Here are my top 6 reasons why you need a planner:

1. Planners can customize packages to meet the needs of your wedding, and they know how to think creatively to save money and get you what you want!

2. You can’t do everything by yourself – brides, moms, friends – they are working and have their own lives. You can’t keep on track with your job and the jobs of others for such a big event.

3. You need a professional who can help you make decisions and be impartial. Your wedding planner doesn’t know Aunt Betty or your BFF Jennifer and will help you make decisions that are pleasing to you – not others. The planner is a good mediator between the bride, groom and relatives.

4. Contacts — A successful wedding planner should have relationships with top-notch vendors at discounted rates. They will be more apt at getting a better deal on those floral arrangements than you, so utilize their resources!

5. A venue will only be partial to the preferred list of vendors who may have ads in their marketing brochure. Your planner will know a variety of vendors and choose ones that are in the best interest of the client and their budget.

6. Wedding planners are known problem solvers and are built to solve emergencies and have contingency plans.

Photo by Victor Junco at one of our recent weddings (not part of the weddzilla article)

Mike and Jen - A Whimsical Garden Wedding

2011-05-17T16:24:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure of coordinating the wedding of Jen and Mike at the Davis Island Garden Club in Tampa. Jen and Mike hired me as their day-of-coordinator a few months ago after selecting most of their vendors so that they could relax and enjoy their special day after all of the hard work of planning it themselves.
Their style was a mix of whimsical meets nature, with a color scheme of whites, creams, and grass green. There was a little bling thrown in there as well. There were several cute details such as the topiary placecards, the rice cake table (a nod to the bride's Korean heritage), and the elegant pearl balls hanging from the shepherds hooks which we later placed on the head table.
The couple started off by doing a "first look" photo shoot with their photographer, David, at the Westin on Harbour Island. The ceremony was then held at the Garden Club under the gazebo and officiated by the couple's pastor, accompanied by a string trio from their church. The guests then enjoyed a cocktail hour and reception with delicious food provided by Good Food Catering. I can say it was delicious because I tried some of it myself.. the filet and homemade mashed potatoes were so yummy.
In the reception, Ben from Grant Hemond DJ's entertained the guests with his dj'ing (and dancing) skills. He also did amber uplighting around the room which enhanced the romantic feel that Jen and Mike wanted. Jen made the centerpieces herself and they were impressive - hydranga, babies breath, and curly willow draped with crystals. The other beautiful florals, bouquets, and decor was created by Scott with Apple Blossoms.
I really appreciated all of the vendors' hard work on this event. It was truly a team effort and the wedding turned out wonderful because of it. I got the opportunity to work with David Krantzberg of Basia Mille photography for the first time (Beth actually worked with him the day before coincidentally along with Ben). He sent us photos within a few days and we were so thrilled. Not only was he professional and easy to work with, but the product is amazing. Enjoy!
Jen and Mike, I am so happy for the two of you and know you are going to have a wonderful marriage. Hope you are having an awesome time on your honeymoon right now!

A Middle-Eastern Destination Wedding

2011-05-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

Melissa contacted me in November in need of some help planning her upcoming wedding in April. The only thing she had booked was the Grand Plaza hotel on St. Pete Beach, and she also had a theme - middle eastern to respresent her groom's background. Because she and her fiance, Kent, lived out of state, they needed someone who knew the area and could basically plan the entire wedding for them since they would not be here until the wedding day.

From there we selected some awesome vendors to help pull this concept together: Event Design provided the gold chivari chairs, gold chargers, and gold cake stand; Custom Linens provided the bright red and orange satin tablecloths. We chose this color scheme because it complimented the sunset that the guest viewed during the reception through the beautiful windows of the Presidential Ballroom, and it also went with our middle eastern theme. We had accents of deep blue and fuschia as well throughout the room. Melissa's favorite flowers are roses so this made up the majority of the centerpieces and awesome escort card tree created by Dana Dineen. She also decorated the hotel's bamboo arch with gorgeous organza fabric and roses. Before the wedding, the bride and her bridal party were given fabulous hairstyles from the amazing Cari of Kyle Lynn Weddings. Their custom ceremony was created and performed by John Melchinger of a Perfect Witness, which was accompanied by the beautiful music of Bella Musica.
For the cakes, Melissa wanted to do something very special and grand so we had a 5 tiered middle-easten inspired cake in bold colors with an intricate design. As a surprise to the groom, Laurie from A Piece of Cake also made the pillow cake which featured the couple's two cats on top and their monogram. It was so adorable!
The reception music and jewel-toned room lighting was done by Cory Barron of Grant Hemond dj's, and he's one of my favorites to work with. He is so professional and talented and the dance floor was packed all night. Later, Melissa changed into a sexy strapless dress so she could really break it down. Guests also enjoyed a slideshow video of the couple and a candy buffet. All of these amazing moments were captured on video by Randy of Celebrations and Jason Angelini Photography. It has been awhile since we worked with Jason and it was great to see him again - I was so excited when they posted all of these amazing photos on their blog. Melissa and Kent, thank you for trusting me to plan your special day from afar, may you have a beautiful life together!

Great Vendor Endorsements

2011-04-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

One of the best ways to find reputable vendors is through other vendors. It is much easier for us when we are working with competent vendors and our clients are happy, so when we recommend others, we make sure we are confident in their abilities. It's so flattering when other vendors recommend us to others. We just received this wonderful endorsement from the wedding officiants at "A Perfect Witness". Check it out!

"Planners come and go, but a few really break through the "ordinary" barrier and make a lasting statement . They devote themselves personally to every wedding. big or small. Our view as officiants is narrowly focused on the ceremony. A good planner makes our job easier and results better by a willingness to share thoughts about a client. Collaboration makes everything work better. Professional communication becomes critical, and working always for the client is the first esential ingedient. Flawless Occasions is all of that, and delightful personalities as well. There are only a few planners I always enjoy working with, and Flawless Occasions is one." Thank you so much to A Perfect Witness for this great endorsement. We love working with you as well. To see more of our vendor endorsements, click here!

Cutting out the Clutter of Wedding "Stuff"

2011-04-11T17:39:00.001-07:00

Do you have a box in your house holding a bunch of wedding "stuff"? We often have brides give us a box of random items to set up for the wedding without any specific designation of where it should go or how they would like it used. Many brides are guilty of this... you're out shopping at the mall and you see a cute candle set or a bridal figurine or a bunch of lace heart ornaments and you say "hey, maybe I could use that for the wedding somehow...". So you buy it, bring it home, and it goes into your box of wedding "stuff" for the next 6 months to collect dust until the big day.

Here are some questions to ask yourself prior to purchasing items for your wedding.

1. What do I want to do with this item?

2. Does it match the colors/theme/style of my wedding?

3. Have I already purchased similar items?

4. Am I buying this because I love it, or because it is a good deal?

Don't buy something unless you can think of an exact way to utilize it at your wedding. It might be cute, but will it fit in with the rest of your decor or will it become clutter on a table somewhere? If you can't think of a significant use for it in your wedding, you probably shouldn't buy it.

Not only will this save you money by keeping you from purchasing a bunch of stuff you won't need, but it will relieve you of the stress in trying to come up with some type of use for all of the crazy items in your wedding box o' junk.

Happy Planning! :)

More Dana and Jeff !

2011-04-11T17:31:00.000-07:00

Last month I coordinated the wedding of Dana and Jeff at the beautiful Reunion Resort (which is very close to Disney for those of you who are unfamiliar with the area). I just wanted to share a few pro photos from photographer Gary Kaplan. Dana's wedding gown was one of my all-time favorites, she looked amazing! Enjoy!

Kristen and Alen's Davis Island Wedding

2011-03-30T18:45:00.000-07:00

On March 25th, Kristen and Alen said "I Do" under bright blue skies surrounded by many friends and family at Davis Island Garden Club. The weather could not have been any more perfect for their outdoor ceremony and the bride and groom could not have been any more adorable!

Kristen came to Flawless Occasions in August of last year in search of a day of coordinator. She really wanted to make sure that her wedding was fun for her guests and she absolutely accomplished that!

Before the ceremony, guests were invited to enjoy cocktails on the patio which was decorated with beautiful chandeliers, sheer drapes and cocktail tables decorated with beautiful white and fuscia linens (which were provided by Kate Ryan Linens). Guests were able to enjoy beautiful music by a string ensemble too.

For the ceremony, the gazebo was decorated with more draping and gorgeous arrangements which were created by Botanica. Rose petals lined each side of the aisle and pails full of roses hung on shepherds hooks.

The inside of Davis Island Garden Club was elegant and charming all at once. The escort cards were boarding passes which had a destination for each guest. The destinations were the table names which represented places that Kristen and Alen had been to together.

Botanica provided draping and up lighting which transformed the room. The tables were covered with gorgeous crushed satin table cloths (from Kate Ryan Linens), silver chargers, aqua colored napkins and silver chivari chairs from First Class Rentals. Kristen created her own centerpieces which were a mix of tall glass cylinders with roses and shallow bowls with floating flowers and candles. In addition, Botanica created two huge arrangements with curly willow.

As an extra treat for the guests, a cigar roller from Cuban Dreams was on hand so guests could enjoy their own freshly rolled cigar.

I cannot say enough great things about Cory from Grant Hemond! He really kept this party crowd on the dance floor shaking and moving all night long.

Mandy & Me photography was there to capture the moments and photograph this fun loving couple. Mandy already has pictures up on her blog which is amazing in itself! It is also the reason I have these fabulous pictures to share on our blog. (Please check out her blog for more pictures though!!)

Life's Highlights was also on hand to video the entire day. I hope to have some of their footage to show you soon...so don't forget to check back!!

Most people know how much I love cake and this one was no different! As always, Laurie from A Piece of Cake created a Cake that was delicious to the eyes and the taste buds!

Last but not least, the catering and bar tending were provided by Amici's who prepared a beautiful buffet of items personally selected by the bride and groom.

It was such a pleasure to be part of Kristen and Alen's special day! I hope they are enjoying their awesome honeymoon in Turks & Caicos!

I also wanted to give a shout out to our newest Flawless Occasions member, Kelly. She did a fantastic job helping with the set up and I am so happy to have her on board. Thanks to Shawna who stopped to assist as well and one last special thank you to Cory from Grant Hemond for the help packing up at the end of the night!

Kristen and Alen - thank you for hiring Flawless Occasions. You two have a love that is contagious, fun, and inspiring all at once. I wish you both a lifetime of happy moments!

Thank you to Mandy & Me Photography for letting us share all of the following photos!

Sneak Peak!

2011-03-29T18:05:00.001-07:00

Isn't this a beautiful picture!!!
This is a professional photo from Jen and Corey's Mahaffey Theater wedding taken by Stephanie A. Smith Photography! She really did a fantastic job of capturing their personalities!
We hope to be able to share more soon!

A Fabulous Shoe Shower!

2011-03-27T14:15:00.001-07:00

I usually don't put very many personal posts up, but in this case my planning job meshed with my personal life and I definitely wanted to share. This weekend I got to plan an awesome shower for my friend Natalie who is getting married at the end of April. I put together the shower since most of the other bridesmaids live out of town and everyone was really happy with how it turned out (whew!).

We hosted the shower at the delicious Pane Rustica in South Tampa. Their private room, called the Blue Room, was a swanky yet cozy spot with gorgeous decor and a large plasma screen tv on which we played a dvd slideshow as a surprise to the bride.

The theme of the shower was shoes because the bride is a total fashionista and loves her shoes. We had a custom cake created by Swe ets by Mindy and it came out so adorable! It also tasted delicious (we had the amaretto cake). We also had high-heel shoe cookie favors from All the Buzz Cookies. I've used Amy a few times for various custom cookie favors and she does a great job. Her sugar cookies are almost too cute too eat.. but they are too tasty not to eat. :) One of the other bridesmaids made the simple and modern tulip arrangements and we had pintuck runners on the tables as well.

Here are a few of my photos from the fabulous shoe shower!

Jeff and Dana's Napa-Inspired Nuptials

2011-03-13T17:35:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of coordinating a wedding this weekend for a very special couple. The bride, Dana, and her twin sister, Marcie, were sorority sisters of mine at the University of Florida. I was so honored when Dana hired me almost a year ago to be her day-of-coordinator. I also knew many of the bridesmaids which made it really fun for me. The wedding was held at the amazing Reunion Resort - this is one of my new favorite venues now. It is located about an hour east of Tampa in the city of Reunion, right before the Disney area. It's a gorgeous resort with beautiful scenic parks and of course their well known golf course. The ceremony was held in the Grande tent next to a beautiful waterfall, and it incorporated all the Jewish traditions and rituals including a ketubah signing prior to the actual wedding ceremony. Rabbi Arthur Baseman officiated under a breathtaking chuppah covered in curly willow, hydranga, and roses created by Botanica.

Because the couple chose to do a first look and all of their formal portraits before the ceremony, everyone got to relax during the cocktail hour and I got to give the bride and groom a sneak peak of the reception room before the guests came in. That was for sure one of my favorite parts of the night! Dana also got to show Jeff the surprise groom's cake which was adorable.

The reception was held in the Grande Ballroom with entertainment provided by Blue Stone Circle band. This crowd partied well into the night starting off with almost 200 people doing the traditional Hora dance and continuing with the dance floor packed til 1:30am! The Reunion staff put on an amazing event with great food and awesome personal details like monogrammed desserts and mini ice sculptures for the intermezzo (yes, every single guest received their own "Z" ice sorbet bowl). Their service really was top-notch and I can't thank them enough for their hard work and all of the care they put into this event. The 5 tier wedding cake and the "grill master" groom's cake were both made by Party Flavors bakery in Orlando and they came out great.

Many of the details had an underlying wine theme -- grapes in the centerpieces by Botanica, purple hues throughout, murano glass wine stopper favors -- because Jeff proposed to Dana during a trip to Napa.

Dana and Jeff, it was a pleasure coordinating this wedding for you both and I wish you a lifetime of happiness together. Thanks for letting me be a part of your big day. Here are some of my personal photos of the day and pro photos hopefully coming soon as well as a video highlight from DunnRight Video!!

Jennifer and Corey's Mahaffey Wedding

2011-03-08T21:15:00.000-08:00

I started working with Jen and Corey in November of 2009 so it was bitter sweet to see them tie the knot at Mahaffey Theater on February 26th. They are such a fun couple and I am truly going to miss working with them!

Their ceremony was held on the first floor atrium which has floor to ceiling windows so it almost felt like you were outside. Jen had her little brother do a reading from Dr Seuss' "Oh The Places You Will Go" which had guests both laughing and crying at the same time. Their long time family friend, Rev. Landeen did a beautiful job performing the ceremony. Afterwards, guests enjoyed cocktails and appetizers on the second floor atrium.

The reception was held in the ballroom (which also had amazing views)and was decorated with navy table cloths, stunning floral arrangements from Dana Dineen and the largest cookie buffet I have ever seen! The cake from Let Them Eat Cake was adorned with the cutest cake topper that Jen found on Etsy.

Delectables catered the event and the food was delicious! Guests raved about how tender the beef was and the pasta bar was a huge hit! The Delectables staff were all very professional and the service was fantastic.

Rob Sword provided the music for the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception and, as always, did a wonderful job MC'ing. The dance floor was packed all night long! There was a very talented little boy (my guess is he was about 2) who had dance moves that most men don't have. He really stole the show! :)

Stephanie Smith and her second shooter, Carolina Araujo were there to capture all the smiles, the happy tears and the special moments. It was so much fun working with them and I can't wait to see their photos!

Now, back to that awesome cookie buffet! Many of the cookies were actually made by Jen & Corey's friends and family. You name it, they had it! There were too many different types of cookies to name - but the guests really enjoyed them throughout the evening and also loved being able to fill up goodie bags so they could enjoy them later.

Jen and Corey, it has been so much fun working with the two of you. The love you too share is so special and so inspiring. I wish you both a lifetime of love, happiness and many great memories. I hope to see you at a Rays game soon!

Here are some of the pictures I took, but hope to have some professional photos to post soon!

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This little man was quite the dancer!

A 70th Birthday Bash!

2011-02-22T17:31:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, the mother of the groom from one of my recent weddings called me needing assistance for a birthday party she was throwing for her husband. But this wasn't just any birthday party.. it was a HUGE birthday party for over 400 guests. And that photo above is a piece of art depicting the birthday boy in his birthday suit, of course.

At the time,they only had their venue, the Sheraton Sand Key, and their favorite band being flown in from Colorado. They hired me to plan all the rest and pull together the remaining details... in just 2 weeks. I love a challenge though and this family was so great to work with. Lucky for me, Wally, the birthday guest of honor, was a UF alumni who loooves the gators. This was my kind of party.

A huge thank you goes to all of the vendors who were able to help me pull off this event in such short notice. Celebration Balloon Center provided the festive balloon centerpieces and The Bride's Bouquet designed a beautiful arrangement for the greeting table. The awesome Florida Gator ice sculpture was created by Arctic Ice. The guests were also raving about the delicious cake, cookies, and cupcakes from A Piece of Cake in Tampa. They looked just as perfect as they tasted. The guests were also treated to an ice cream bar to compliment the sweet treats. I really appreciated the assistance that Bonnie and the staff provided at the Sheraton - their service was excellent!

Here are some photos of the event shared with us by Hayley Jones of HJC Photography.. enjoy!!

Pro Photos and Video -- Alex and Max

2011-02-16T14:56:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to receive a cd of images from Alex and Max's January wedding at the Vinoy. I love when photographers are so willing to share their photos. A huge thanks to Victor Junco, their wonderful photographer, for capturing these beautiful moments and details from this gorgeous wedding. I also received a video highlight from Ian of Movie Magic. We loved working with them again and the video looks fantastic - I love how the video shows Alex's huge smile the entire time. Thank you for sharing this with us Ian!!

Alex&Max from MOVIE MAGIC PRODUCTIONS on Vimeo.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T14:45:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to our wonderful clients and all of our blog readers. Did you get engaged this Valentine's Day? We want to hear your engagement story!! Send us an email at Shawna@FlawlessOccasions.com and tell us all about the proposal with a photo of you and your sweetheart...we'll pick our favorite and you'll win 10% off your planning package. Plus, we'll feature you on the Flawless Blog and hopefully inspire others to pop the question, too!
Send in your story by Sunday, February 20th, to be considered for the contest.

We would also like to with Meag and Ryan a very happy anniversary. We spent Valentine's Day of 2009 coordinating their beautiful wedding at the Mirror Lake Lyceum. They are now living in snowy Boston so we wish you a happy and hopefully warmer 2 year anniversary. :)

Bride's Choice Award 2011!!

2011-01-27T15:48:00.000-08:00

We were very excited to find out earlier this week that we won the Wedding Wire Bride's Choice award for the 3rd year in a row!!!!! We always love winning this award because just as its name implies, we were selected based on reviews and feedback from our own clients. Here is the press release sent to us by WeddingWire.com and a huge thank you to our wonderful clients, past and present, for your positive feedback and support!

"WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Flawless Occasions has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for Wedding Planning. Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Flawless Occasions stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Flawless Occasions for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Flawless Occasions is among the very best wedding planners within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com. "

A Nice Day for a Wine Wedding

2011-01-22T10:05:00.000-08:00

When I saw this wedding on Wes Weber Photography's blog, I couldn't help but share it. I love the tablescapes with the branch centerpieces coming out of different wine bottles, the tables named after different wines, The giant wine glass candeholders, and the simple yet elegant white hydranga in the mason jar. The cork placecard holders are adorable too. I think they did a wine theme in a tasteful and classy way...and I love wine so maybe I'm a little biased. I'm also a big fan of the photography by Wes Weber.

Alex and Max's Vinoy Wedding

2011-01-16T16:52:00.000-08:00

Alex and Max were married this weekend at the beautiful and historic Vinoy resort in downtown St. Petersburg. I have been working with Alex and her aunt for the past year and it was so wonderful to see it all come together. We had a fantastic group of vendors who assisted in the flawless execution of this event.
We started off with Cari from Kyle Lynn doing all of the hair and makeup for the bride and bridesmaids. She is so sweet and made these already gorgeous girls look even more like supermodels.
The ceremony took place in the tea garden. I'm pretty sure Florida is the only state in the US where you can have an outdoor wedding in January. The ceremony was officiated by the honorable Judge Beddinghouse, a personal friend of the bride and groom. After the ceremony we moved inside for the cocktail hour and reception.
The Vinoy staff was amazing and the couple chose unique stations for their reception, including a slider station and made-to-order lobster mac n cheese. YUM. The wedding cake was created by pastry chef Michael at the Vinoy and mimicked the design of the bride's couture gown.
The beautiful florals were made by Debbie of the Bride's Bouquet and her designers Doug and Jane. I loved the way the orchid spray centerpieces coordinated with the Chihuli glass chandalier, the showpiece of the Grand Ballroom.
Other decor details included elegant mahogany chivari chairs and gold scalloped chargers provided by Event Design and beautiful custom stationary including placecards, menus, and table numbers by Michelle with Paper Players.
This reception was an awesome party...people were on the dance floor nonstop! It was basically because the band was amazing. Seriously, I am now a huge fan of The Headliners Band. Not only were they professional and great to work with on the vendor side of things, but they also have to be one of the coolest bands I have ever seen. I even caught some of the party on my new flip video so check it out at the bottom of this post!!
Last but not least, Victor Junco was the couples' photographer and it was such a pleasure meeting him. I know he got some great shots and I can't wait to get them on our blog. I also got to work with Ian from Movie Magic again and as always, he was doing a wonderful job and will be sending us their movie trailer in the near future. Our clients are always so happy with the videos he captures for them.
For now, here are a few of my own photos and of course the mini video at the bottom. Alex and Max, I'm so glad you were happy with the wedding and wish you the best...cheers to a long and loving marriage! :)

Leisha + Chris = Love

2010-12-28T17:01:00.000-08:00

Leisha and Chris are two high school math teachers who met at a county math teacher training, hence the equation titled post. :) I have to say this couple was one of the happiest I have worked for and planning with Leisha was such a pleasure, I miss it already. Leisha hired me a few months after their engagement because- although at first they thought they did not need a planner due to having a smaller size wedding- they quickly became overwhelmed and that's where I came in. Leisha completely put her trust in me and allowed me to choose all of her vendors, and of course it turned out to be a flawless wedding!
Both the ceremony and reception were held at the wonderful Island Way Grill in Clearwater. This is a fantastic venue with delicious food and great service and I was very happy to work with them again. They were filming a movie next door (the one about Winter the Dolphin with Morgan Freeman!!) but we had the entire restaurant to ourselves for their early Saturday wedding. Leisha's childhood pastor married them in a personal and intimate ceremony in front of about 40 guests with lots of laughter and a few tears. The ceremony music was performed by violinist Laurie Vodnoy-Wright and the guests really enjoyed her beautiful music. Her elegant bouquet and the florals were created by Lou at The Arrangement. The day ended up being a little chilly although beautiful, so after the ceremony finished we moved inside for the cocktail hour and then proceeded to their event room for the reception.
Doug Decker from Grant Hemond, one of our favorite dj's, provided the reception music and got a lot of people out on the dance floor for a day wedding! He did a great job as always. The beach themed wedding cake was made by the Publix on Island Estates and came out exactly as Leisha envisioned. She literally shrieked when I gave her a little glimpse of the room setup during cocktail hour which is an awesome feeling to know how happy my clients are. :)

Towards the end of the reception Leisha surprised her guests by changing into a sexy little white sequined dress that her mother bought for her as a gift a few days before the wedding. The guests also had another little surprise when dj Doug gave Chris the microphone so he could sing a little Garth Brooks karaoke style.

This was a fabulous wedding and I couldn't have enjoyed working with this couple more. I often get to know the family and friends when I do the smaller weddings and this was no different - the bride and groom's parents really treated me like part of the family and I appreciate all of their kindness. Thanks as well to their photographer, Abbey Saxton, for sharing the photos of the day and capturing some really special moments. Leisha's radiant smile is contagious in these photos and you can really see the happiness of the day.

Our Top 5 for 2010!!

2010-12-26T10:31:00.000-08:00

As 2010 comes to a close, we can't help but look back and remind ourselves of how lucky we have been this year. Flawless Occasions, after a little over 3 years of business, had its best year yet in 2010. Here, in no particular order, are our top 5 reasons why 2010 rocked!!

1. Flawless Office!!! Of course, at the top of the list would have to be the opening of the Flawless office. Being located in such a wonderful area of South Tampa and next door to a great neighbor, Apple Blossoms Florist, has been such a positive experience for us. It's been amazing to have a place to call our own and showcase our work, collaborate with other wedding vendors, meet with clients, etc.

2. Christina!!! Another equally amazing blessing has been the addition of Christina, bringing our Flawless blondes to three. She has brought so much to our team already and after assisting Beth for some time, she had her first solo wedding in 2010 and it went off without a hitch!

3. Awesome Awards!! We were pleasantly surprised to win The Best of the Knot 2010 and another Bride's Choice Award. These awards are special to us because they are given to us based on our client feedback, which is our top priority. And speaking of our clients,

4. Our Clients!!! The weddings we have had this year have been wonderful, unique, and memorable. Many of our clients have become friends, some have kept us in their lives (Beth is coordinating a baby shower for one of our recent wedding couples!), and they have all just been a joy to work with.

5. The Vendors!! We had a great year of working with new vendors and venues, and of course our old friends as well. We expanded to destination weddings with Beth doing our first one in historic St. Augustine, and we branched out to several of the Sarasota venues as well including the
Ringling and Crosley. With the variety of vendors and venues we worked with this year, we gained more experience and more connections to support us and help our clients even more!

So overall, it's been a great year. Can 2011 top this? With so much already in the works, it looks like it just might... :)

Rave Reviews and a Sneak Peak!

2010-12-22T07:09:00.000-08:00

Leisha and Chris were an amazing couple - definitely one of the happiest couples I have ever had the pleasure of working with. They were married on November 6th at the beautiful Island Way Grill in Clearwater. Leisha recently posted a very sweet review on weddingwire.com that I wanted to share along with a sneak peak as well from their photographer, Abbey Saxton. More photos and their blog post coming soon!!
Leisha's review...

"Shawna was the wedding planner for my November wedding. Shawna helped me develop the ideas that I already had, and suggested ideas that I would have never thought of. I decided to use all the vendors that she recommended, and I was more than pleased with all of them! Shawna helped us with all the setting appointments, reviewing contracts, organizing the arrival of all the vendors, and setting a wedding day timeline to help things run smoothly and help my husband and I know what to expect! The day of the wedding, Shawna had set up everything to exceed my expectations. My husband and I were able to relax and enjoy our big day, knowing that Shawna was handling all the details! Everything was perfect and we enjoyed every minute of a day we will never forget!"

Hot Deal - Custom Glasses

2010-12-15T14:48:00.000-08:00

Did you love the custom champagne glasses from our former bride Candace and her bridesmaids? We did! Want to know where you can get these awesome glasses for your bridesmaids?? Check out The Cute Glass on etsy. They have these custom painted champagne glasses and many more including wine glasses and even pint glasses for the guys. She has great handpainted designs featuring bridesmaid dresses, bouquets, bride and groom designs, lingerie and high heels for a bachelorette party theme, and the list goes on.. you need to check it out yourself. And the hot deal is, FREE SHIPPING this week (until Dec. 17th) so act fast.

The Great Guest List Debate

2010-12-04T14:23:00.000-08:00

Typically one of the most difficult tasks when it comes to wedding planning is the creation of the guest list. Although your wedding planner can essentially plan your entire wedding, we cannot choose who to invite to your wedding. :) We have many clients who struggle when it comes to cutting down the guest list either for budget issues or venue restraints. Here are some of my personal tips on how to figure out who to invite, and who to let go.

-When it comes to friends, think about your current friendship. Do you talk to them fairly frequently, or at least every few months? Or has it been over a year since you have spoken to them? You do not need to invite the person who sat next to you in 11th grade biology. You should invite the person who you still have a steady friendship with and who you see continuing this friendship in the future.

-When it comes to family, this can get tricky. You will often be pressured to invite your parents' second cousin's children or your grandmother's brother's daughter. Try to limit the number of extended relatives being invited, especially ones whom you have never met or barely know. If your relatives ask to invite certain other relatives, just explain to them that you have a guest limit and are keeping it to immediate family.

-When it comes to spouses or significant others, who do you invite? You should always invite the spouse of the guest. You should also invite those who are in serious relationships. If you are trying to cut down your guest list, then limit the number of plus 1's for your single friends, especially those who are going to know other guests at your wedding. If they are going to have other friends at your wedding, they don't need to bring a random friend with them.

-When it comes to the kids, can you say no? If you want to have an adult-only reception, there are a few ways to handle this. You can include on your invitation a brief line at the bottom stating "Adult reception to follow at etc. etc.". You can also only address the invitation to the adults and verbally spread the word that it is an adult-only wedding. If you have multiple guests with children, you can offer babysitting services onsite for those who are interested, which will also let them know that children are not invited to the actual wedding but you are doing what you can to assist them.

-When it comes to an "A List" and "B List", is this acceptable? It is totally ok to do two guest lists, you just have to do it carefully. Sometimes you will have unexpected no's from your guest list, and there were a few other friends you had hoped to be able to invite. So do it! But a few tips - if you are planning to send out more invites when you have the space, make sure you do it in a timely manner. Send out your first batch a bit earlier so that when you get those no's, you can immediately send out the few extras. If guests are getting their invites a week before your wedding, they will know they didn't make the first cut and could be offended so do not wait too long. Also, make sure your first batch and second batch invitees are not in the same circle of friends or family. They will realize if they do not get their invites at the same time as others and it could hurt feelings.

Hopefully these tips will ease your guest list woes. It can be one of the toughest parts of planning but in the end it will be worth it when you have the most important people in your life celebrating with you on your big day. (photo courtesy of theknot.com)

Larissa and Derek's Professional Photos

2010-12-01T17:49:00.000-08:00

Wow, I was so excited today when Jerry McGaghey sent us over these sneak peaks from Larissa and Derek's wedding. I can't say enough great things about Jerry - he's dependable, organized, creative, and the photos speak for themselves. I also appreciate his calm demeanor and ability to organize people and shots quickly so you get the most photos for your time. Here is just a sneak peak from this fabulous wedding, and you can also see some more on the slideshow here! Thanks Jerry, you rock!!!

Larissa and Derek's Vintage Glam Wedding

2010-11-29T17:28:00.000-08:00

Larissa and Derek were married on Sunday, Nov. 21st at the Powell Crosley Mansion in Sarasota. After all of the love and hard work Larissa, Derek, and Larissa's mom put into the planning of this event, I was so happy to help their visions come to fruition. The couple's love of travel inspired them to create a European-influenced motif with an Eiffel Tower ice sculpture and vintage French postcard table numbers.

The marriage ceremony was performed by the bride's uncle and Bella Musica performed beautifully during both the ceremony and the cocktail hour. There is something so romantic about live music at a wedding ceremony - I think it's such a nice touch and Eric Nordstrom and his musicians did a wonderful job.

After the ceremony the guests enjoyed a cocktail under the pavillion during a sunset on Sarasota bay, and then continued inside the mansion for the reception. Delectables provided the delicious dinner of which guests raved about and the vintage-inspired black and white cake was made by Publix. The tall and low bright fuschia and white centerpieces and florals were all designed by DD's Blooms.

A highlight of the evening was definitely during dinner, when the groom surprised his bride by serenading her karaoke-style with Luther Vandross' "Here and Now" that the guests loved.

After the reception, guests returned to the terrace for a ton of dancing to the music of DJ Frank Diaz. All of the amazing moments were captured by the talented Jerry McGaghey and his second shooter, Tina. Videography was done by Always In Memory. I can't wait to see the pro photos and video, but for now here are a few non-professional photos...

Jackie and Tim's Elegant Vintage Circus Wedding

2010-11-22T11:44:00.000-08:00

On October 30th, Jackie and Tim were married under the trees on the front lawn of the Ca d'Zan at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota. This stunning mansion is surrounded by large, lush trees and gorgeous views of Sarasota Bay. It was the perfect day for an outside wedding!

Jackie and Tim live in NY city, but chose Jackie's home state of Florida for their wedding. Florida also had significance to Tim though because his parents have always had a condo here so he spent a lot of time in West Florida while he was growing up.

The ceremony was performed by Rev. Dr. David Cole and included a tradition from Jackie's Greek heritage - the wreath exchange. The ceremony was personal, touching, and romantic and I don't think there was a dry eye around.

Jackie looked stunning in her Vera Wang gown complimented by hair and make up by Michelle Rene artists.

After the ceremony, the guests were able to take a stroll through the house on their way to cocktail hour which was held on the back side of the mansion. The cocktail hour took place during a breath taking sunset.

Jackie and Tim picked a unique theme for this wedding which was elegant vintage circus. They picked this because the mansion was the winter home of John and Mable Ringling (of Ringling Brothers Circus).

This wedding is a perfect example of a theme is perfectly executed and not overdone. They just had a few vintage touches such as vintage Ringling Postcard save the dates, the vintage glass used for their centerpieces and the flower arrangements that were created by Apple Blossoms Florist. By the way, Apple Blossoms did a magnificent job on the flowers! They were unlike anything I had every seen before!

Their invitations had a touch of circus with trapeze people on the back of the envelopes,and their cake topper was a handmade version of Jackie and Tim on the trapeze. They also had vintage circus place cards that were cut outs of circus animals.

Shutterbooth was there with lots of fun props so guests could take pictures for the scrapbook.

Mattison's Catering served a delicious duo entree which the guests really enjoyed and then they also served a late night snack of sliders, truffle fries, mini milk shakes and cotton candy! Chef Paul Mattison and his staff were amazing to work with and the provided five star service.

RJ Vida provided all of the music and the uplighting. RJ really knows how to keep a crowd moving and as usual, the dance floor was packed all night. As always, we really enjoyed working with RJ!

Jeff and Sara from K&K Photography were there capturing all the special moments and details. Jeff and Sara did a great job staying on track which allowed Jackie, Tim and the entire wedding party to even enjoy part of the cocktail hour. I can't wait to see the pictures!

Jackie and Tim had so many fun touches and surprises for the guests it truly was a one of kind event. From the elegant linens and chivari chairs to the array of food and fun little details - everything fit together perfectly.

When Jackie found us through The Knot Magazine last January I could tell this was going be a fun wedding! Jackie and Tim are the sweetest couple and you can just see the love in their eyes. I really enjoyed working with them and their families. They were all absolutely wonderful people and I will miss planning with them.

Jackie and Tim - Congratulations! I hope you enjoyed your South African Honeymoon. You two are very special and it was an honor to be part of your day. Please keep in touch!!!

Here are some of the photos I took of Jackie and Tim's fabulous wedding:

Flawless Occasions featured at White Closet Bridal Co.

2010-11-18T03:25:00.000-08:00

We are very excited about this upcoming weekend. Not only are we coordinating an amazing wedding at the Powell Crosley Mansion in Sarasota, but we were also invited to be the exclusive wedding planners at the White Closet Bridal Co.'s Ella Trunk Show this weekend.

Owner Cindy Rivera has invited us to come and meet all of her wonderful clients to give them wedding planning advice and share our expertise. We are so flattered and excited about this opportunity. We know it's going to be a fabulous event with all of the special attention and pampering Cindy has prepared for her bride-to-be's.

For more information about the Ella Trunk Show, visit the White Closet Bridal Co.'s website. Appointments are almost entirely full but it might not be too late so call today and come out and see Cindy and our own Beth this Saturday and Sunday!

Desiree and Trey's Sweet Beach Ceremony

2010-11-14T15:17:00.000-08:00

Flawless Occasions has had the pleasure of working with Desiree, the event coordinator at the Marriott Sand Key, on multiple occasions when we have worked on weddings together. We were so honored when she chose us to help her on a very special event - her own marriage ceremony.

The groom, Trey, is in the military so this couple wanted to plan an intimate and romantic beach wedding ceremony to become man and wife before he is deployed. I chose Sunset Beach for their ceremony because of its beauty and privacy. Desiree's elegant bouquet of red roses and white stephanotis was created by DD's Blooms. I officiated the ceremony just as the sun was setting this past Monday, and the couple wrote their own vows in a personal and emotional ceremony.

Erin from Memories by Erin Leigh captured this extremely special moment and took some gorgeous portraits of the soldier and his bride. Here are some of my favorite photos by Erin, enjoy!

Candace and Tom's Elegant Affair

2010-11-13T13:45:00.000-08:00

On October 16th, Candace and Tom exchanged vows at Saint Paul's Catholic Church in St Pete. After the ceremony, the guests headed over to the Tradewinds Resort to celebrate.

About 240 guests shared in the celebration and I think that every one of them stayed on the dance floor enjoying the great music played by DJ Joe Lorenzo from Expert Productions. This crowd really knew how to have a good time!
The room look magnificent with pink uplighting, black linens with fuchsia accents (from A Linen Valley)and gorgeous centerpieces by Dana Dineen.

Candace and Tom really had some wonderful things planned for their guests. Natalie from Chic Sweets created a fabulous candy buffet which was a huge hit! They also had Cigar Rollers from Nicacabana Cigars, baskets full of flip flops so people could dance the night away and fun props for the dance floor. The guests really enjoyed themselves!

They also had a cake from Publix which was as beautiful as it was delicious. The cake table was adorned with rose petals, votives and pictures of Candace and Tom's parents on their wedding days.

Carrie Wildes Photography was there to capture all the special moments and details. In fact, here are some of Carrie's amazing photos from the day!

Candace and Tom - you truly are a very special couple and it was an honor to be part of your day! We wish you both a happily ever after!

Thank you Carrie for all the great photos!!!

Happy Veterans Day and a Sneak Peak

2010-11-11T14:57:00.000-08:00

In honor of Veterans Day, here is a sneak peak of one of our latest newlyweds, Desiree and Trey, from Erin of Memories by Erin Leigh. We give many thanks to our past veterans and current soldiers, including Trey, for your service to our country. Happy Veterans Day!

More from this sweet beach ceremony to come...

Stacy and Paul Tie The Knot

2010-11-07T16:20:00.000-08:00

On October 15th, Stacy and Paul were married in a beautiful ceremony at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Dunedin. Stacy and her bridesmaids carried gorgeous bouquets from DD'S Blooms and looked amazing in their gowns.

By coincidence, the church was having their fall festival the same day as Stacy and Paul's wedding. After the ceremony, their photographer Kimberly from Kimberly Photography was able to take them to the fair and capture some fun photos on the ferris wheel.

While Stacy and Paul were taking pictures, the guests headed over to the Marriott Suites on Sand Key for cocktail hour on the pool deck. Daniel Giron played guitar as the guests enjoyed appetizers and cocktails. The weather was gorgeous!

The reception was held in the ballroom at the Marriott. RJ Vida and his crew provided the gobo on the dance floor and the blue uplighting. The lighting really added a unique ambiance to the room. Grant Hemond DJ Tim LaVechia got the crowd on the dance floor and Shutterbooth provided a fun memento for guests. The candy buffet was a huge hit and the cake from Chef Nelson was scrumptious!

Stacy and Paul spent almost a year taking dance lessons so they could surprise their friends and family with a choreographed first dance. Paul and Stacy had another big surprise for their guests too. After dinner Stacy changed to a knee length gown and the newly weds took the dance floor to do a swing dance. They did a fantastic job and the guests were truly wowed. Thank goodness Ian from Movie Magic Productions was there to capture it on video!

The guests really enjoyed the fun surprises, the personal touches and the delicious food. Desiree and the rest of the Marriott staff did a wonderful job taking care of the guests.

Stacy and Paul, I really enjoyed being a part of your special day! I wish you both a lifetime of love and happiness.

Kimberly did a beautiful slide show of pictures from the day that you can check out on her blog. .

I also snapped some photos during the day which are posted below. Enjoy!

Shannon & Corey's Westshore Yacht Club Wedding

2010-11-01T17:49:00.000-07:00

On October 9th, Shannon Fitzpatrick and Corey Holthaus said "I DO"! I met Shannon only a fewshort weeks before her wedding and from the moment we met I knew she was going to be a lot of fun to work with. I was so excited to be her Day of Coordinator.

Shannon's vision for her wedding would best be described as sophisticated fun! Their wedding took place at the beautiful Westshore Yacht Club in Tampa. The venue had such an amazing presence. From the moment you walked in, you could see the breathtaking views of the water, the spiral staircase leading up to the cocktail area, and then into the stunning ballroom with more magnificent views.

As the wedding was ready to start and I opened the doors for Shannon to begin her walk down the aisle and become a Mrs., she looked absolutely glamorous. She was calm and was as ready as ever to see her groom.

Shannon and Corey exchanged vows out on the Marina Side pool deck. It was the perfect backdrop for the outdoor ceremony. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and there was just a slight breeze in the air. Their photographer, Jessica Leigh, was there to capture all of their wedding day moments and turn them into memories they will have and can share forever.

As the photographer took Shannon, Corey, and the bridal party out for pictures, the guests were invited to head upstairs for cocktail hour. To get things going, guests walked up to the 2nd floor and were greeted with high top tables, a full bar, white glove butler service, and the Daniel B. Marshall Band. Once the newlyweds had returned from taking pictures they joined their guests during the cocktail hour were then escorted into the banquet room where their DJ, RJ Vida, got the party started.

Shades of chocolate and pink were delicately scattered throughout the ceremony and reception. The floral arrangements and bouquets were done by Apple Blossoms. Shannon chose soft pink and white gerbera daisies for her centerpieces and to add soft touches around the banquet room. Shannon and Corey decided on cupcakes instead of the traditional cake. They elicited the help of The Cupcake Spot to design their scrumptious dessert.

The couple was an absolute dream to work with. Their wedding date was pretty special for me as well because it was my 5 year anniversary. Shannon and Corey ended up giving me the best gift ever…they asked the DJ to make a announcement to wish me a happy 5th anniversary and out of no where my husband appears and they start playing our first dance song from our wedding!!! I mean, are you kidding me? They had this planned for over 2 weeks!

At the end of the night, Shannon and Corey (and several friends as well) decided to end the evening with a splash…literally. They counted to three and jumped into the pool fully dressed in their wedding gown and tux! It was a refreshing way to end the night. It was such a great way to end the evening.

Not only was this wedding special because it was my first wedding I was planning solo and I would now share a wedding anniversary with the amazing couple but also because I can now call Shannon and Corey my friends. I thank them from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be a part (literally) of their special day.

Photo Feature: Larissa and Derek by Jerry McGaghey

2010-10-26T17:48:00.000-07:00

We can't wait for Larissa and Derek's wedding at the Crosley Mansion in Sarasota next month! They are such a fun couple and their wedding is going to be so beautiful.
We also can't wait to work with photographer Jerry Mcgaghey again. He recently shared with us some of Larissa and Derek's engagement photos taken around the University of Tampa and downtown, and as usual we were so impressed by his unique and modern style. Here are some of my favorite photos from their session!

A Sweet Safari Baby Shower

2010-10-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

Last weekend while Beth and Christina were busy with 2 weddings, I traveled down to Miami to create a baby shower for my best friend, Marty. She wanted a jungle/safari themed shower to reflect her and her husband's love of animals. I surprised her with a candy buffet favor table for her 35 guests which also highlighted the beautiful 2-tiered animal print cake made my Candy's Sweets and Treats. The cake was delicious and Candy's Sweets and Treats are also well known for their adorable cake pops which will ship nationwide starting this holiday season, so check her out. The candy buffet featured animal print chinese takeout boxes, a variety of candy in greens and browns, and adorable animal head lollipops. Of course I had to add some safari animals around too, which will be future toys for baby Landon. It was really fun putting on a different type of event since we typically just do weddings, and in fact Beth has an upcoming baby shower she is also planning for one of our fabulous former clients. It's so exciting to be included in our clients' lives as they enter the next phase of their lives.

Here are some photos I snapped to share "Landon's Sweet Safari" candy buffet table. Enjoy!

Fall Into Love Photo Session Giveaway

2010-10-21T03:37:00.000-07:00

We have 3 weddings to blog and more to come.. wedding season is in full swing! But in the meantime, photographer Shay Cochrane recently sent us a little note to share with our clients that she is having a great giveaway for a couples photo session. Time is running out, so send in your photo today for a chance to win, and let her know that you read about it on the the Flawless blog!

Welcome to Tampa, Puff 'N Stuff!

2010-10-10T09:31:00.001-07:00

Last week the Flawless Occasions girls were invited to a very intimate tasting with Puff 'N Stuff Catering. Althought Puff 'N Stuff has been a premiere caterer in the Orlando area for many years, they have just recently opened a Tampa branch to serve this side of I4. We are so excited to be able to recommend this caterer to our brides and grooms now! Our friend Amy Brace (formerly of Brides Florida magazine) has now joined the Puff 'N Stuff team and invited us to this special event at their headquarters in the T. Pepin Hospitality facility.

We were so pampered at this tasting, and the food was just as fabulous as the presentation. Puff 'N Stuff prides itself on creating innovative dishes that look just as good as they taste. From the cesar salad with the personal mini cheese grater to the lobster mac and cheese (which was my favorite by the way), each dish kept topping the previous one. We were also so appreciative of the beautiful, personalized cutting boards that were given to each of us with our names carved in (you can see this photo towards the bottom) - it was such a personal touch!

Thank you to Amy and the Puff 'N Stuff crew who put together such a delicious and wonderful tasting event; we can't wait to collaborate with you in the future! I took some photos - enjoy! :)

Top this Toast!

2010-09-18T13:26:00.001-07:00

So last year the hot YouTube wedding video was the ceremony entrance dance performance to Chris Brown's song "Forever", and it went on to be copied by brides and grooms all over the world. But at the beginning of September, a groom went even further and turned the reception toasts into a scene straight out of a Broadway musical. Literally. The groom re-created the famous scene from Fiddler on the Roof where a groom-to-be and a father-of-the-bride are celebrating a recently arranged marriaged and everyone toasts, dances and sings "To Life"! Fiddler on the Roof just happens to be one of my absolute favorite musicals. Oh, and the groom just happens to be the creator and star of the new popular Broadway show "The Heights", so that helped a little too.

He secretly met with family and friends multiple times during the month preceding the big day so that the performance was fully rehearsed and ready to go, and the bride had no idea. It was a great surprise for the bride (her reactions are great), and the guests got front row seats to a Broadway-worthy performance. I really hope this gets copied as much as the ceremony YouTube video was because it's so fun. Click here to view the full article, and here's the video - L' Chaim! (to life!)

The Lovely Lange Farm - Open House Event

2010-09-13T16:14:00.000-07:00

We were so excited to be invited to the Lange Farm open house this past weekend. We have seen so many photos of beautiful weddings at this location but had not yet gotten a chance to go out there and see it for ourselves. This place is such a hidden gem and so unique for Florida. It's tucked between rolling pastures and oak trees in the small town of Dade City, just outside of the greater Tampa Bay area.

One of the great things about Lange Farm is the multitude of options for ceremony and reception sites, and the staff at Lange Farm did a wonderful job of showcasing this by setting up all of the areas so we could see exactly how they could look. We were so impressed by the natural beauty of the farm and how many different locations there were within the venue. The ideas are endless! You could have your ceremony in a spot under a huge oak tree, under a gazebo, or in front of the Garden House, just to name a few. The Garden House is their largest indoor reception space and has a huge wraparound porch and large back patio with gorgeous chandeliers and an open and airy feel inside. For smaller receptions or even another event like a rehearsal dinner, the barn is a very whimsical and fun area that can be given a casual feel or elegant tone depending on your taste.

There were so many great vendors that we got a chance to mingle with at the event, and some amazing food from Olympia Catering, Good Food Catering, Delectables, and Catering By Design. Lange Farm does not do their own catering, so one of these fabulous companies would be a great choice. Not only did we see a lot of our old vendor friends, but we also got to meet photographer Justin DeMutiis whose work we have admired for awhile now. He was gracious enough to share these beautiful photos from the open house with us. He's shot many weddings at the Lange Farm and told us that it is one of his favorite venues to work at because of all the photo opportunities in the beautiful, natural settings there. Thanks for sharing your photos with us, Justin!

We would love to help you plan a wedding or event at this one-of-a-kind venue so contact us today for more information on our special wedding packages created just for this location!

New Bridal Boutique!

2010-09-08T16:54:00.000-07:00

Before becoming a wedding planner with Flawless Occasions, I first broke into the wedding industry as a bridal consultant for a local gown shop. One of the most important experiences I took from that job was the value in buiding a relationship with your bride and always giving her the utmost personal attention. This is why I love Tampa's newest bridal boutique The White Closet Company.

I recently sat down with owner Cindy Rivera who was kind enough to give me a personal tour of the boutique. It was such a pleasure listening to her speak about her new business venture and hearing how passionate she is about weddings and the bridal experience. Unfortunately Cindy did not have the best experience in her own wedding gown shopping which is supposed to be such an exciting and memorable time for a bride. It was because of this that Cindy was inspired to open The White Closet Company.

When I asked Cindy what she felt made her boutique unique, it was simple - the personal, one-on-one attention that every bride will get when she walks in that door. There will not be high pressure sales tactics or chaotic dressing rooms at this shop. She wants to build a relationship with her clients so they feel comfortable and enjoy every moment of the experience.

The White Closet Company is currently featuring 4 different amazing designers, with prices ranging from $700.00 a gown to $3,400, as well as some great bridal accessories and specialty items. Visit the White Closet Company's website or call to make an appointment at 813-249-GOWN.

Thanks, Cindy, for allowing Flawless Occasions to visit your beautiful bridal boutique! We wish you much success although it seems like after your fabulous grand opening this weekend, you are already off to a great start! Here are some wonderful photos of The White Closet Company boutique taken by the talented Carrie Wildes...

A Flawless Office Grand Opening Celebration!!!

2010-08-23T17:19:00.000-07:00

This is one of the most exciting blog posts EVER. As some of you may know, Flawless Occasions had a huge change this past June - we opened our own office! We were lucky enough to secure a space in a wonderful new building called the Apple Blossoms Wedding Center, which is the brainchild of Scott Darhower of Apple Blossoms Florist. The idea behind it is a location that could potentially be a one-stop-shop for brides; several wedding vendors located in a convenient area for all of your wedding and event needs. Although we work and operate completely independent of one another, it's great to be neighbors with others in the industry.
The Wedding Center is setup with a main lobby area which also serves as a meeting space for those in the wedding center or other wedding and event vendors who wish to rent out the space to meet with clients. There are a few permanent private offices also located in the building, one of which is ours - The Flawless Office!
On Wednesday, August 18th, the entire Wedding Center in conjunction with Apple Blossoms Florist hosted a fabulous grand opening celebration. We had delicious food catered by Elite Events Catering, Dee's Delights, and Cakes Plus, an open bar, and RJ Vida spinning hits (there was definitely a late night dance party towards the end of the evening). There were so many great friends and vendors in the industry, as well as tons of beautiful brides and clients. We were shocked at how many people made it out on a weeknight to come and celebrate with us - it was literally a packed house for most of the night. A huge thank you to everyone who attended and made our grand opening a huge success!
And another big thank you goes to one of our Wedding Center neighbors, Joelle from Socialite Studios, who got some awesome photos of the night that we are so excited to share with you! Check out her video at the bottom too, it's pretty hilarious.. :)

Jennifer and Marlon's pro pics

2010-08-22T05:54:00.001-07:00

A big thank you to Christie Curtis from Limelight Photography for sending over these great pictures from Jennifer and Marlon's wedding that we planned and coordinated a few months ago at the Marriott Sand Key. It was such a wonderful wedding and Christie's photos really captured all of the best moments and details of the day. Thanks again Christie!

Some Design Inspiration

2010-08-09T18:51:00.001-07:00

I've been busy working tonight on a design scheme for one of our wonderful November brides, and I came across a ton of great inspiration boards on ProjectWedding.com. Check them out! And don't forget, many of our planning packages come with design assistance. We love to help you create a vision, and then coordinate it! :)

Is it all about you?

2010-08-08T05:24:00.000-07:00

This weekend the New York Times had a very interesting article about vegetarians and vegans - to serve meat or to not serve meat at their weddings. Although I have attended and/or coordinated weddings that had food choices related to religious requirements, the idea of food choices related to personal life choices is a different situation altogether. I like this article because it gives several different points of view. What do you think about this topic? Take our poll at the bottom!

Here's an excerpt from the article itself and you can read the rest by clicking here.

At Vegans’ Weddings, Beef or Tofu?

Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times
The pastry chefs Fernanda Capobianco and François Payard will serve meat at their wedding, though she is a vegan.

By DOUGLAS QUENQUA

Published: August 6, 2010

WEDDINGS are all about compromise. City or country? June or November? My religion or yours?

For Chelsea Clinton, a vegetarian, it was the decision to serve meat to the guests at her July 31 wedding. (Short ribs, specifically, though there were rumors of Angus steak.)

For some couples, that is a concession too far.

“If your family loves you and wants you to have that special day, I think they can go one meal and not eat meat,” said Cecilia Kinzie, a vegan and food consultant in Petaluma, Calif., who served no meat at her 2009 wedding.

“If you go to an Indian wedding, you don’t expect Italian food,” added Ms. Kinzie, who had already appeased her family by spending her savings on a hotel reception rather than the honeymoon she’d always dreamed of. “So why should this be any different?”

As it turns out, the most political decision of Ms. Clinton’s wedding was not whether to invite James Carville. By choosing to have meat, she reignited a sensitive wedding-season debate among ethical eaters and the people who love them: To serve, or not to serve?

To read article in its entirety, click here

Flawless Contest Winner!!

2010-08-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

There was a bit of a delay but I wanted to announce the winner of the Flawless Contest from last month. We were looking for entries describing a great memory that someone had with their loved one, but instead we got a great memory in need of preserving. Congratulations to our contest winner, Desiree, who was looking for someone to photograph her intimate wedding ceremony before her fiance is deployed in October. We feel really great about helping this bride and her soldier capture the beautiful memories that will be made on her special wedding day. Thanks to Memories by Erin Leigh for helping us to award this great couple with a free photo session. Can't wait to see how the photos turn out!

Congratulations Chelsea Clinton!

2010-08-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

I admit I am not very much into celebrity news and am usually the last to know about a celebrity breakup or arrest or whatever - but I am all about Chelsea Clinton's wedding photos! Her dress was a Vera Wang and absolutely breathtaking. She mixed a little traditional with trendy by wearing a blusher veil with a more modern bling-belted gown. She and her fiance Marc had an interfaith ceremony mixing their Methodist and Jewish religious backgrounds. There were 400-500 guests at the lavish affair. I'm hoping they release some more photos because I would love to see the decor and details of this amazing wedding.
Click here for more -Dress details, Wedding details
(photo credit: US Weekly Magazine)

How to do a formal beach wedding...

2010-07-30T06:26:00.001-07:00

In Florida, we obviously do a lot of beach weddings. Couples from here and from out of town love the idea of fun in the sun while they say "I do". But not everyone wants barefoot-in-the-sand, umbrella-in-your-drink beachy. Many couples want to combine an elegant and formal wedding with that Florida beach feel. So how do you accomplish that? Here are some inspiration photos from some of our favorite photographers that really set the tone of beachy elegance.

photo credits: Jason Angelini Photography, Stephanie A. Smith Photography, Kellie Day Photography, and Erin Chris Photography

Back from Abroad

2010-07-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

You have probably been wondering where all the blog posts have gone! Beth, Christina, and I have all taken a bit of time off to do some traveling. I promise I will post some more fun blogs asap.

I just got back from a 10 day trip to Europe and it was amazing! It was my first time going abroad and I got to see so much in such a short time. We went to Spain, Italy, France, and Monaco.

Mallorca is the largest island of Spain. We visited its capital, Palma, in the latter part of our trip. Palma is a huge tourist destination with beautiful beaches and fabulous shopping. There were also an abundance of bridal and wedding related shops that I couldn't help but snap photos of for the blog! You'll notice that the trend right now for wedding gowns in this part of Europe is definitely ruffles and lace - very elegant, and very Spanish influenced. Their cakes are more modest but looked delicious.. enjoy!

Wedding Wire Rated

2010-07-11T20:23:00.002-07:00

We were recently informed that we have been Wedding Wire Rated. This is Wedding Wire's way of saying we have a certain amount of reviews posted on their site. We are at their highest status because we have 25 or more reviews on our page! We would like to thank all of our wonderful clients for their kind words and thank you for posting your reviews to help other future brides and grooms.

Destination: Florida

2010-07-11T10:15:00.000-07:00

Flawless Occasions loves destination weddings! TheKnot.com lists Florida as the #1 destination wedding location in the United States. Here is what they had to say:
With its sunny weather and beautiful beaches, Florida competes with the Caribbean and Mexico in beach appeal and is likely to be cheaper and easier for your guests to travel to. In addition to sand and surf, it boasts world-famous amusement parks and great access to golf and other outdoor sports. Each Florida location is a unique experience: Head to Palm Beach for a preppy country club-style affair, Miami for an event with international flavor, and the Keys to soak up a laid-back island vibe.

Although Flawless Occasions is based out of Tampa, we love to travel all around Florida to help our brides and grooms with their destination weddings. Here are some of our favorite wedding locations throughout Florida~

The Florida Keys
Beachside Marriott, Key West Florida
With it's private beach area and poolside cabanas, this Marriott in Key West has a laid back yet elegant vibe. They have several options for the reception including classic ballrooms and a modern dining room. It's just 10 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Duval Street so you can still visit all of the sites but your wedding will not be overrun by tourists. We can't wait for Morgan and Adam's Key West wedding in April!

Miami
Ancient Spanish Monastery
There really is no way to show the beauty of this location with a few photos. It's a huge piece of land in North Miami surrounded by gardens and trees. There are several areas available for rental including an indoor chapel, outdoor gardens, and the main hallways where most receptions are held around the courtyard. For a Miami location, this venue is very reasonably priced, however you need to bring in everything as it is a blank slate. If you are looking for historic and unique in the middle of a bustling city, this is your venue.

Palm Beach
The Omphoy Ocean Resort
Upon first look at this hotel, I was immediately intrigued because on the outside, it almost does not look like a hotel. The Omphoy's exterior is about as odd as it's name, however when you step inside it's like walking into a different world. The entire hotel is dark, modern, and zen (they say it is water-inspired), which is a sharp contrast to the sunshiny beach outside. I think that is why I liked it so much - because it's so different. The Omphoy is Palm Beach's only boutique hotel, and since it's only a year old, it's still a hidden gem along the east coast. Your ceremony can be held on their outside terrace overlooking the ocean, or in their upstairs rectangular room which almost has a gothic feel to it. The reception room has floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Atlantic ocean as well as buddha statues and awesome damask chairs. If you are looking for a zen wedding by the water, this venue is for you.

Central Gulf Coast
Sanibel/Captiva
South Seas Island Resort
Heading over to the southwest coast, Sanibel and Captiva islands are a very popular destination wedding choice because of the laid back feel and the beautiful gulf beaches. South Seas Island Resort prides itself and providing a private beach setting for your wedding. There are several gorgeous spots to hold both a ceremony and reception, including the beach itself, the lawn overlooking the beach, an outdoor terrace, and several dining room and ballroom options depending on the size of your group. South Seas Resort actually can accommodate the most guests out of any other resort on the island.

Central Florida
Orlando
Lowes Portofino Bay Hotel

Many couples choose to get married in Florida to be close to Disney. If you love Disney, but don't necessarily want a "Disney wedding", the Universal Resort hotels offer an alternative to the typical Disney feel but still have that magical touch. The Lowes Portofino Bay is a replica of the Italian Riviera, so you can get a European feel in Florida without a passport. :) There are multiple courtyards and ballrooms to meet your ceremony and reception needs. There are also several other restaurants on site to host a smaller reception or rehearsal dinner. Their authentic Italian restaurant, Mama Della's, has the yummiest polenta I've ever had!

North Florida
St. Augustine
The White Room Loft
You may remember Beth coordinating a wedding at this venue last January. It is such a unique and cool site in St. Augustine, which is the oldest city in Florida. The White Room Loft is an addition to the White Room, and it's located on the 3rd floor of the building with an outdoor terrace that gives you sweeping views of the city of St. Augustine and the water. It has a minimalist look with exposed brick walls and dark wood floors. It's a great space with or without a lot of decor. There are several cute historic inns and hotels nearby so your guests will have plenty of choices for accommodations.

The Panhandle
Destin
The Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
The panhandle is located in Northwest Florida, and although the oil spill in the gulf has started to affect them sadly...they need our support now more than ever. There are several beautiful options that do not rely solely on their gulf beaches. The Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is a huge and gorgeous resort in Destin, Florida. They have many options for your ceremony and reception, including picturesque lawn and garden ceremony sites, quaint verandahs, and many elegant ballrooms. Do not write off the panhandle yet - these cities are still wonderful choices for your Florida destination wedding! (photo credit, Sandestin website)

NoHo Bistro Summer Bash Event

2010-07-03T11:30:00.000-07:00

The Flawless ladies were recently invited to the wedding and event planner "Summer Bash" get together at NoHo Bistro in Tampa for an evening of delectable dining and drinks. NoHo Bistro does fabulous catering on site or at your location, and they pride themselves on unique presentation and fun food items.

We were treated to some delicious treats set up in a station style. There was an Americana station with mini porklet sliders "roasting" on a grill, an Asian station with Chinese takeout boxes of stir fry noodles complete with a zen fountain of bamboo, and a sweets station with mini flavored popcorn cones, mini pies, and twinkie bites. There were also some delicious drinks set up at a drink station. We got to see some of our local wedding planner friends and chat with the owners about the many options that NoHo Bistro could provide for our clients.

Basically their philosophy is, if you can dream it up, they can create it, and they can provide the guidance in helping you to plan your unique event at their adorable restaurant or at the location of your choice. Here are a few photos I snapped of their fabulous food presentations. And a big thank you to Jessica and the staff at NoHo Bistro for allowing Christina and I to experience your creative cuisine.

The Noho Bistro
1714 N. Armenia Ave.
Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 514-0691
www.theNoHoBistro.com

A Flawless Contest!

2010-06-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

We are teaming up with Memories by Erin Leigh for a special summer Flawless contest!
A little about Erin Leigh in her own words:

"My passion is capturing important moments in life and remembering them through meaningful photographs. To me a well-taken photograph is more than just a beautiful image, it is a memory."

Erin is based out of Sarasota although she travels throughout the Tampa Bay area. She has special packages for brides who want bridal portraits on the day of their hair and makeup trial - a unique idea which makes a lot of sense for busy brides. She is able to capture them during a relaxed time while they are still "done up" but without the stress and time constraints of their wedding day. Erin also loves to preserve the memories of the smaller parties - the rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, and brunches.

So how can you win a free portrait session with Memories by Erin Leigh? Just send us a short description of one of your favorite memories you have made with your fiance and a fun photo of the two of you. We'll choose our favorite ones and then let our blog readers vote on the winner! All submissions must be received by midnight on Sunday, July 4th, so hurry up and email them in to Shawna@flawlessoccasions.com.

Great Tips for Finding a Wedding Planner

2010-06-20T13:21:00.000-07:00

At least once a month, someone asks me how I became a wedding planner. My story isn't that exciting... I always loved planning parties and events. I planned some for my sorority (events that ranged from 30 guests to over 200 guests) and a large banquet for the University of Florida's college of Education when I was a graduate student, but it didn't really lead me into anything until a few years ago when I started working as a bridal consultant at Alfred Angelo. Following my experiences there working with brides and other industry professionals, I met and interned for Beth and eventually earned my spot as a coordinator here at Flawless Occasions. Yes, there were multiple steps on my path, but I think all of them lead me to become a better and more experienced coordinator.
Beth, on the other hand, was in the event planning industry for several years at the corporate level and transitioned over to the wedding planning industry a few years ago. She also planned events for a large non-profit organization in Orlando for many years.
But unlike us, some people try to start from scratch and immediately start their own wedding planning business. They will even call themselves "experienced" because they planned their own wedding, or helped a friend with their wedding. Buyer beware, because real experience is important when handling the biggest day in a couple's lives. Although everyone has to start somewhere, being someone's first or second wedding client is a risk that you need to be aware of before you hire a newbie wedding planner.
This article from weddingplanning.com has some great tips on how to find a legit wedding planner -- some of these tips can also be applicable to finding other vendors as well, especially the tips specific to contracts and payments.

SELECTING A WEDDING PLANNER, CONSULTANT OR COORDINATOR
The recent "work at home" business boom has created companies who offer rapid "certification" programs for wedding, party and event consultants, coordinators and planners. For a few hundred dollars you too can become a "certified" wedding or event planner. Unfortunately, there are a number of inexperienced "planners" and "consultants" and "coordinators" running around with "certified" stamps on their foreheads hoping that people will buy into believing that "certified" means "experienced". Selecting an experienced planner, consultant or coordinator is essential if you are going to have a worry free and problem free wedding. There are just too many details that can easily be overlooked or messed up to trust your wedding to someone who has never planned a wedding before. Be sure to inquire about the planner's experience and the number of weddings they have coordinated.

Ask to obtain several recent references from the wedding consultant or planner so you can check their clients satisfaction level. If they are not willing to share several recent references with you, don't waste time. Move on to another wedding planner.

Services that are offered will vary and can range from simple consulting services to make the job of "doing it yourself" easier, to complete "start to finish" coordination of your wedding. A consultant usually takes a more passive role and may simply offer "guidance" in areas where you may not be familiar while allowing you to do it yourself. On the other hand, a full service wedding planner or coordinator will provide more "hands on" expertise and take an active role in planning and supervising your wedding, handling everything from working with you to establish a workable budget, to selecting the best suppliers at the best price, to addressing and sending wedding invitations, to on-site supervision of the components of the actual wedding. Depending upon your budget you will have to decide which level of service is right for you.

When you speak to different wedding planners, take notes and determine your comfort level with the specific planner. Do they seem to listen and understand what you have in mind?

Inquire about the fee structure and obtain a written outline of the fees or an estimate of the costs involved.
Do they charge by the hour or based on a specified percentage of the total wedding cost? (A percentage based fee is not really a preferred arrangement since the wedding planner makes more money when the wedding costs more - which offers the planner very little incentive to save you money.)

Find out specifically what you are getting for your money, which areas of the wedding planning process they are taking care of and which areas they are not taking care of.

Ask if, in addition to the fee they charge you, they also receive a fee from the vendors that they contract for your wedding. If your goal is to receive the best value, planners who charge vendors should probably be avoided since the fee they charge the vendor sometimes (frequently) is "built -in" to the vendor's charges to the client. This is pretty much like paying the planner twice, isn't it?

*The above also applies to wedding and special event facilities who have an "approved" vendor list and who receive a fee from the approved vendors for requiring the client to use their services. Remember though, that just because a facility may have a vendor list does not mean that they automatically charge the vendor a fee. This is a question you will need to ask the wedding facility.

Payment for the wedding planner's fee is also something to discuss initially. Normally, the planner will charge a retainer in advance that either covers a percentage of the anticipated total or for a specific number of hours of service. The balance is then payable either in periodic time billing amounts prior to the wedding - or in full at the conclusion of the wedding - or a combination of the two.

Avoid paying 100% of all fees in advance unless you know that the wedding planner has a rock solid reputation. From a practical standpoint, it is usually best to reserve final payment until the conclusion of the event - just in case something goes wrong due to negligence on the part of the wedding planner.

Payments to vendors contracted on your behalf by a wedding planner will either be paid by you directly or paid by the wedding planner from funds paid by you to the planner for that purpose. When paying the planner for services provided by contracted vendors, be sure to obtain the ORIGINAL invoice copies rather than paying from a statement.

Summer Steals!

2010-06-18T07:21:00.000-07:00

Summer is here... and although most people are already complaining about the sweltering heat and the mid-afternoon thunderstorms, there are some reasons to celebrate summer!
There are TONS of fun giveaways in the wedding industry! Here are just a few from around the web, and stay tuned because we are going to have a great giveaway coming up soon as well!

FREE Photo Shoot!!
Want to treat yourself to a free mini-photo shoot with popular local photographer Shay Cochrane? Maybe a bridal shoot, or a professional shoot, or even just a fun fashionista shoot... it's all about you! All you have to do is post this phrase on your facebook, blog, or twitter, and then let her know you did it by commenting on her blog:
"I REALLY want to win a free photoshoot with Shay Cochrane Photography! www.shaycochrane.com"
By the way, that gorgeous photo is of a friend of mine from the University of Florida whose wedding Shay recently captured. Beautiful!! :)

FREE wedding lingerie!

Cosabella is giving away a beautiful chemise, perfect for your wedding night, honeymoon, or maybe some budouir photos...? ;) It's from their Never Say Never Bridal Collection and it can be yours by entering Wedloft's contest on their blog!

Awesome Accessories Giveaway!
Visit Brenda's Wedding Blog to enter this contest for a $50.00 gift certificate to Starz Selection on Etsy. They have really cool floral and veil headpieces, brooches, and other unique accessories. You will also get a free pair of shoe clips, which are the latest accessories for your feet! :) All entries must be received by June 21st so hurry over to Brenda's Wedding Blog and fill out the info!

Kelly and Adam's Treasure Island Wedding

2010-06-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, June 12th, Kelly and Adam became husband and wife as they exchanged vows on beautiful Treasure Island Beach behind the Bilmar Beach Resort. Kelly booked Flawless Occasions a year ahead of time but the first time I met them in person was a couple days before the wedding. Like many of our couples, Kelly and Adam planned their Florida wedding from another state (Illinois).

From the minute I met them, I knew their wedding would be a lot of fun. At our pre-wedding meeting Adam openly admitted that Kelly made most of the wedding planning decisions - but you could tell he had complete confidence and trust in her choices. Adam was right to trust her as their day turned out perfect! There were a lot of personal touches like table names representing the places they had traveled, a display of photos from their parents and grandparent's weddings and a cigar roller which turned out to be a big hit. They also had a Polaroid guestbook and escort cards that had vintage cuff links for the guys and vintage broaches for the girls. They even gave each vendor one!!

Kelly and Adam had their friend, Jen, perform the ceremony and she did a great job! Other than the unexpected shout from some random guy (that can happen in a public area) the ceremony turned out perfect. Luckily, this was a crowd with a sense of humor, so they got a good laugh out of it. The vibrant, lush bouquets and arch flowers were created by Dana Dineen.

After the ceremony, the guests enjoyed cocktail hour and the reception at Bazzie's Beach Bar which is part of the Bilmar. The Bilmar staff was attentive to the guests and the food was delicious! The nice thing about Bazzie's is it is an indoor/outdoor space that walks out to the beach so you get the best of both worlds.

Erick Runyun of Ephotographics was the photographer and I really enjoyed working with him. While the girls were getting ready (with the awesome Julissa from Beauty Brought Out making them all gorgeous!), Erick set up a computer with pictures from the rehearsal dinner. During the reception, he also set up the computer so guests could enjoy all the pictures he took during the ceremony and cocktail hour. What a nice touch!

Movie Magic Productions was there to video the entire event. It was really fun working with Ian again and I am hoping he will be able to share a trailer with us so I can post it on the blog! :)

Rob Sword provided the music and light show that kept the crowd on the dance floor the entire night. This was a party crowd and I don't think the dance floor was ever empty! I heard the party continued well after the reception was over.

The beautiful beachy cake was made by Publix. The piece I had was red velvet and it was delicious! Each layer had a different flavor though, so guests had a choice.

The most memorable moment of the night for me,though, was when Adam actually came up to me and asked if HE could get ME anything! That was a first! I had to remind him that he was supposed to be enjoying the night and not worry about what his wedding planner needed! Honestly though, Adam and Kelly are a great couple and their family and guests were equally as nice. I really enjoyed being a part of their special day.

Kelly and Adam, thanks again for being such amazing clients. You are a beautiful couple and best wishes for a wonderful life together as husband and wife.

Here are some pictures that I took throughout the day. Enjoy!

Sweet Centerpieces

2010-06-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

I love these gift box centerpieces from Harvard Sweet Boutique. They have a huge selection of box designs and additions to create a custom gift centerpiece. These are so cute for a garden wedding, a bridal shower or bridesmaids luncheon, or a baby shower. And the best part is, at the end of the event your guests can each take home a box of the goodies. Filling options include brownie bites, mini cookies, and truffles. Not only is your centerpiece cute and unique but it is also delicious and takes care of a decor element and a guest favor all in one!

Jennifer and Marlon's Wedding Weekend

2010-06-02T05:10:00.001-07:00

I had the pleasure of working with Jenn and Marlon on their wedding for almost a year. They hired Flawless Occasions to help with everything from finding a venue to managing the details on their wedding day. Right from the start, I knew that they would be a really fun couple to work with and they certainly were! When I watched them become husband and wife on May 15th - they were not just my clients, but also friends.

Jenn's wedding weekend started off with a Bachelorette party on Thursday in Clearwater and a Rehearsal Dinner Beach BBQ on Friday. Since they hired me to be their "personal photographer" for both events - I was able to meet a lot of their family and friends who were also a lot of fun and treated me as if they had known me all along!

On Saturday, Jenn and Marlon were married at the Marriott Suites on Sand Key and the fun continued Sunday morning with a pool side breakfast! By having so many events planned for their wedding weekend - Marlon and Jenn were able to truly spend a lot of time with their family and friends. Many of the guests were from out of town, so I think they really enjoyed having so many planned activities!

Jenn and Marlon had their wedding ceremony on the Marriott's patio overlooking the water. It was a beautiful, sunny day! Dana Dineen and her staff decorated the arch and designed the pretty, lush, bouquets The couple had their good friend, Tim, perform the ceremony and he did a great job! When Marlon and Jenn exchanged their personal vows that were both funny and emotional -I don't think there was a dry eye around!

Jennifer's Maggie Sottero breath taking gown looked like it was created just for her. The hair and makeup was done by Cari and Hollie from Kyle Lynn and everyone looked gorgeous!

The reception was held in the Marriott's Ballroom and everything looked amazing! Josh from Inspire Entertainment provided pink uplighting and a customized monogram gobo. Dana Dineen and her staff provided stunning centerpieces and A Linen Valley provided special linens that pulled together the pink and brown theme. The food provided by the Marriott was delicious and the Marriott staff did a wonderful job making sure all of the guests were taken care of. We really enjoyed working with Christi and Ann from Limelight Photography. I know their pictures are going to turn out awesome!

The guests had such a blast at this wedding! They were dancing the minute Josh from Inspired Entertainment started playing tunes. Yes! That means people were dancing even before dinner was served!! This crowd really knew how to have fun! Everyone was so genuinely happy for the couple and they were some of the nicest people I have ever met. Marlon's brother even included me in his toast which was so sweet and very touching.

I am so happy that Jenn and Marlon loved the way everything came together for their wedding and that they were able to enjoy themselves. Christina, Shawna and I all had a great time being part of their day and we all enjoyed working with this very special couple.

Jenn and Marlon - Congratulations!!! I know the planning journey seemed long at times, but I am so glad everything turned out amazing and that it was all worth the wait. It has been so much fun working with both of you and as I said at your wedding - this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship! Please stay in touch!

Here are some of the pictures I took at the wedding. We will post the professional photos from Limelight once they are available.

The Rececption:

The Flawless Occasions team with Jenn and Marlon:

Beat the Heat with Beverage Stations

2010-05-09T13:37:00.000-07:00

Help your guests beat the Florida heat at your outdoor wedding with beverage stations. These are great to set up at your outdoor wedding ceremony so when guests arrive they can have a refreshing drink while they wait. There are tons of options - lemonade, pink lemonade, ice tea, fruit punch, water with lemon slices, etc. Guests will definitely appreciate this added detail and your thoughtfulness in trying to keep them comfortable.

Flawless Occasions can now set up your very own beverage station at your event with our stylish double drink dispenser. Contact us for details and check out these inspiration photos below!

Alicia and Steve's Pro Photos

2010-05-05T15:22:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful to Carrie from A Fly on the Wall Photography who sent us over some beautiful professional photos from Alicia and Steve's March wedding. I've enjoyed working with Carrie and becoming friends with her throughout the past few months, and I really think she is an amazing and talented photographer. Alicia and Steve were such a loving and happy couple, and her photos really show the emotions of the day. Thank you Carrie!