Cheryl Daniels Photography - Featured Photographer

It has been a pleasure to work with Cheryl Daniels several times as she photographed weddings in the Tampa Bay Area.  Cheryl has an eye for excellent and majestic photos, has a wonderful and pleasing personality and makes couples feel very much at ease during their photos.  They capture the sparkle in the eyes of the couple when they look at each other, and document the most important moments of your lives.  Daniels Photography is a member of the Tampa Area Professional Photography Association and they specialize in wedding and portrait photography.  I am including a few photos, and suggest that you visit their website for details and more beautiful photos.  Daniels Photography offers a free engagement photo with every wedding package that they contract.

Contact:  Cheryl Daniels
Company:  Daniels Photography
Email:  Danielsphotography@tampabay.rr.com
Website: www.cheryldanielsphotography.com
Phone:  813-416-0657

Sandpearl Resort - Congratulations Carrie and Omar!

Carrie and Omar exchanged their vows at a religious ceremony on the beach at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater, Florida.  I so enjoyed working with this beautiful couple and their families!  The weather was spectacular, and the Sandpearl again provided top notch service for the couple both for the ceremony and the reception.  The professional photographers for the wedding were Shakespear Photography, and I will post some of their photos on a later blog.  One of the nice things about a beach wedding at the Sandpearl, they had a refreshment area with a variety of cooling drinks available while the guests were waiting for the beginning of the ceremony.  Since the couple really wanted to have a unity candle ritual, it was decided to have it at the reception just prior to the dinner blessing.  One of my favorite things was the chocolate fountain.  Yum!  Congratulations Omar and Carrie!  Best wishes for a long, health and happy marriage!

Guest Interview with Nick Schriver with the Decorating Elves

I welcome any guest interviews for this blog. Today I wanted to share the interview I had with Nick Schriver from the Decorating Elves. Many times, I participate in the actual ceremony but I don't see what goes on being the scenes, so this should give us a glimpse of that.

Hi Nick, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Hi, I am Nick Schriver with Decorating Elves, we help brides with lighting and decor for their special day. This includes, fabric draping, from the ceiling and throughout the room, also includes accent lighting throughout the room, and working with their theme to increase the ambiance of their event.

How do you accomplish this?
Most of what we do is working with fabrics like gossemeyo, tulle or chiffon, and incorporating mini twinkle lights into them with a pattern throughout the areas to cover unwanted items in a room or highlighting certain areas, for example, entryways, the bridal table, then we shine a colored spot lights into it to get accent colors.

Why is this important to couples?
Our services are especially great for couples that may be on a budget and want their event to look magical. With couples being more budget conscious than ever, they are able to rent the larger less expensive halls that don't have the fees attached as some hotels and it can really transform the area into an elegant wedding setting.

When do you perform your services?
We like to get into a room before the caterers and do the ceiling work right away. If there is a limited timeframe on the set up, we will arrive earlier in the week and measure everything and have it ready so that we can meet the restrictions.

Where are you doing most of your events?
Most of the decorations that we do are in recreation centers, community centers, church halls, St. Pete Recreation Center, Clearwater Beach Recreation Center, Davis Island Garden Club, Country Clubs, just to name a few, in addition to the hotels such as the Don CeSar, Sirata, and the Tradewinds.


What else do you do?
We can accomplish anything a couple would like as long as they have a photo and budget to accomplish it. Other popular items we have available are oriental lanterns, led cherry blossom trees, plants and trees which accent holiday lighting.

What do you feel sets you apart from others in the industry?
We pride ourselves in our ability to work in venues larger and small, and also to be able to work with a variety of budgets.

How can couples reach you?
They can go on the website at www.decoratingelves.com or visit us on my space at www.myspace.com/decoratingelves

Thank you Nick for sharing this guest blog, I continue to enjoy my association with you!

Brides Against Breast Cancer - We Granted a Wish!

My purpose for this blog is to give the gift of publicity to the vendors that I am honored to work with. I cannot even express how happy I was to be able to work with the Making Memories organization that grants a wish to a bride with breast cancer. In April, at the Cocktail Hour for the Brides Against Breast Cancer, a wish was granted to Cassiday and Douglas. The group opened their hears and provided the couple with a beautiful wedding, complete with flowers, cake, video, hair and makeup, music, gown, tuxedo, venue, and accomodations. It is one thing to be a professional in your field, but it is totally fantastic to see these professional give of their time and their talents and expertise, to grant a wish to make a couples dream come true.

The venue was the Safety Harbor Resort, the sunshine and warmth was provided by......well, you already know that, don't you? It was a fabulous day. The brides gown, the grooms tuxedo, the hair and makeup, the music, the flowers, the cake, EVERYTHING a couple could ever want in a dream wedding! I have never witnessed such gratitude by a bride. The love between them was very evident, and there was not a dry eye around as they exchanged their personal vows.

This post is to let you know that people really do care, and that dreams really can come true. My gratitude and that of the couple, truly goes to the following people who went above and beyond to Cassiday and Dougs dream a reality!

Venue: Tina, Katie, and the staff of the Safety Harbor Resort & Spa
Event Planner: Tammy Waterman, EventsBySpecialMoments
Florist: Scott Darhower of Apple Blossoms
Music: Neil Barnhart, Creative Productions
Video: Mike and Dave Furhmann of Artistic Media
Photography: Brian C Idocks Photographics
Gown: Making Memories Organization and Brides Against Breast Cancer
Tux: Sacinos
Cake: A local bakery
Hair & Makeup for bridesmaids: Michelle Rene
Hair & Makeup for Bride: Safety Harbor Spa
Officiant: Rev. Virginia Bishop, Loving Unity

You're Invited...........Bridal Showcase!

I would like to keep you aware of the Bridal Showcases and Expo's that are in our area that may be helpful to your couples!! 

Bridal Showcase

Sunday, April 5, 2009

10:00 am - 1:00 pm

St. Pete Beach Community Center

7701 Boca Ciega Drive

View the beautiful Boca Ciega ballroom with ceiling swag decorations and mock reception tablescapes.  Visualize a ceremony on the edge of Boca Ciega Bay.  Meet with the best of the Bay Area's caterers, chocolatiers, photographers, DJ's and more!

COST:   FREE

All registered guests will be entedred to win a 4 hour rental to the Boca Ciega room for a rehearsal dinner, shower, or reception!  Hope to see you there!!

Guest Post from Cindy Stonehouse of StoneHouse Events & More, Inc

Wedding Planning Advice…

I began wedding planning because first things first I am a planner. I have to know who, what, where, why, when and how. It is imperative that I know the answers to these questions for anything that I do so I can always plan accordingly. My love of weddings began much later when I realized how much the process had evolved and how many decisions and options were now available to you that I felt like I could genuinely help. Plus, I must add that I love LOVE and being apart of two people's lives on the day they say "I do" is so special that words just can not describe. It is inspiring!

There are so many choices and decisions that every couple must make for their special day that a wedding planner becomes essential. My goal with each couple that I work with is to make this process as easy as possible because I understand that it can be very overwhelming and stressful. I guide my couples through every step of the process and are there along the way for support and confirmation. When I refer a vendor, I try to match up each couple's unique personality with the different vendors I recommend, which is especially important for your photographer, videographer and DJ and officiants. It is important to me that you feel comfortable with who you are working with especially since it is over the course of months.

I am sure by now you have realized that you definitely need a wedding planner. So when you sit down with one and try to decide who you want to work with, I always say to go with your gut. Do you feel the person you are talking to will be easy to work with or difficult? Do they listen to your ideas or do they tell you exactly what you should do and who you will work with? Do they seem to know what they are talking about or does something just not add up? Does she/he have references or reviews from previous clients? Do they carry at least $1,000,000 in general liability insurance? Pay attention to your gut and really listen to what each planner you interview is saying and hopefully the decision will be easy to make from there.

One of my favorite things about planning someone's day is seeing the end result because I have already created in my head a vision of how everything will look after all of our conversations and seeing it come to life is breathtaking! It is amazing and one of the most gratifying moments of my job. But my absolute favorite thing about helping plan my couple's special day is the responses from them about how I made their day so spectacular that they could never thank me enough. That is the most gratifying moment of all and means the world to me!

Thank you Cindy! I know that of the weddings that I am involved with, things sure go much smoother with a professional wedding event planner!!! They are able to have a stress free event!!

StoneHouse Events & More, Inc.

P.O. Box 46836

Tampa, FL 33646

Ph: 813.973.9835

www.stonehouseevents.com

The Portable Photo Booth - What fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I so enjoyed meeting Gary and Candy Terringno at a recent bridal show.  Their company, Serendipity Photobooth - was such a fun and unique idea to bring some life to your parties!!  I had the opportunity to have my photo shot in the booth and I will try to get it posted on here for you to see, but it was quick and easy, and the quality output was great!  The photo booth provides fun for everyone!  It's the fun of a traditional photo booth in a new sleek and modern design and it will be a hit with each and every guest.    Because this new booth is so portable it makes it available in an area where full size photo booths can't go.  You can choose between traditional Foto Fun Strips, a unique Foto Cube, or the classic Portrait Studio outputs.  Each can be customized with a graphic design of logo to make the event even more personal and memorable.

The Portable Photo Booth is an ideal addition for any special occasion both large and small.  Some that come to mind are Weddings, Graduations, Bar/BatMitzvahs, Sweet 16, Birthday Parties, Anniversaries or even Corporate Events.    There are also Photo CD's available to commemorate the event.

One of the ideas that I liked most was that the guests could have their photos taken, and then placed in the scrabook along with their comments for best wishes for couples. That truly makes it personal.

Serendipity Photobooth
16607 East Course Drive
Tampa, Florida 33624
Email: gterrigno72@msn.com
Phone:  813.963.6054

Selecting a Venue to match your vision!

There are just so many decisions in planning a wedding! Selecting a Venue to match your vision and budget is one of the first decisions. Traditional weddings usually included a Church Wedding Service following by a Reception in a Banquet Hall. Today's Brides have so many additional options - we see lots of weddings at the Beach, at Residences, at Parks or Garden Settings, and even in Nightclubs!

The first question to address is Indoors vs. Outdoors or a combination of both. While Outdoor Weddings and Receptions can be absolutely stunning, there is the extra stress and possible expense of planning for inclement weather. I always advise my Bridal clients with plans for the Outdoors to have a back up plan. If the outdoor arrangements are particularly complicated, I will often suggest a Professional Wedding Planner who has experience with the site to handle arrangements which may include extensive rentals. So many of the romantic accompaniments to an outdoor wedding (tents, archways, tables and chairs) have to be rented and delivered and set up the day of the event. All of this makes for a very Special Event but many Brides are surprised to find out that the expenses of an outdoor wedding are comparable to renting a traditional Banquet Hall.

Traditional Banquet facilities whether in a Hall or Hotel do have some advantages in that they are designed for Weddings and Events. Price usually includes all tables and chairs, and the services of a Professional Event Coordinator who will assist with setting up the Party and designing the Floor Plan. When considering a Banquet Hall venue your minimal expectations are a clean, comfortable setting with handicap access, good bathroom facilities, a Catering Kitchen and ample parking for your guests and vendors. You can expect to pay more for a room with a beautiful view or chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, a large dance floor, or an expensive sound system. Many Brides cannot visualize a beautiful wedding reception while gazing upon an empty room. I advise you to as the Event Coordinator to show you photos or allow you to preview an actual event at the site to see how the room dresses up.

The big questions to address regarding a Banquet Hall are:
1. Availability
2. Rental Price
3. Additional costs such as Facility or Clean Up Fees and
4. Condition of Chairs which will impact whether you require Chair Covers which you may need to include in your Venue budget.

It is important to choose a venue with the Capacity to hold your total guest count. While you are thinking about numbers of guests, you are probably not considering the room required for the Bar, DJ, Buffet, Gift Table, or Dance Floor.

My experience is that most Brides look at multiple venues, weigh the costs but recognize what they want when they see it. When you find you perfect venue, you will want to put down a Deposit as soon as possible as popular dates book up fast and many venues can only handle one or two events a day. Phew! That's alot of information to digest but with a little bit of research and comparison shopping you can find the perfect venue especially in Tampa Bay where every day is a special day.

Best wishes for a Beautiful Wedding,
Marilyn Chapman
Bridal Events Coordinator
Delectables Fine Catering
Delectables Fine Catering, Inc.
"The Bay Area's Most Prestigious Caterer"
969 Virginia Avenue, Inc.
Palm Harbor, FL 34683

Email: info@delectablescatering.com
Web: http://www.delectablescatering.com
Phone: 727-781-1200
Fax: 727-789-3401

Another Unique Wedding and Reception Location

NOVA 535 is quite a unique location for your wedding, reception or other event.  I was there last week for lunch, which was scrumptous!  It is located at 535 Martin Luther King Jr. Street North, in St. Petersburg.  Have a look at their website www.nova535.com or give them at call at 727-821-6682 and speak to Courtney.

NOVA 535 Modern Art Lounge & Historic Event Space St. Petersburg's Spectacular Wedding, VIP, Corporate & Special Event Venue Finally, the world class special event venue you've been waiting for to host your next wedding, corporate seminar, bar or bat mitzvah, film shoot, discrete VIP party or whatever you can imagine!

Housed in a gorgeous, meticulously renovated 1920’s structure, NOVA 535 offers 7,000 square feet, 2 stories and multiple rooms of extraordinary and versatile event and meeting space with over 100 convenient parking spaces & easy interstate access.

Our unique venue features a swanky full-service bar, a world-class floating DJ booth, delicious in-house catering, 2nd floor VIP Bar, private balcony, smoking terrace and the exclusive NOVA SUITE - a must see!

With a standing reception capacity of 400 (700 when our gorgeous brick and bamboo garden is enclosed), a staff of seasoned event planning specialists, professional grade audio/visual and HD theater capabilities and more, NOVA 535 offers unparalleled amenities in a spectacular, convenient and private setting.     

Catering Vendors I enjoy working with.....Yummy!

One of the other pleasures that I am able to enjoy in this business is tasting a lot of food from caterers, most of the time at Bridal Shows. I have enjoyed the food from Delectables Fine Catering as well as the visual displays that they make with the food. So, the taste is wonderful, and the visual presentation makes it even more appealing! Executive Chefs Nick Adams and Jeff Simpson take pride and place emphasis on presentation and superior quality.

Did you know that they were chosen for the "People's Choice" award by the Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce? They have a complimentary tasting on the first Saturday of every month from 1:00-3:00pm. You only need to RSVP. They are located at 969 Virginia Avenue in Palm Harbor and you can reach them at 727-781-1200 or email them at info@delectablescatering.com You can receive a coupon for your choice of one of the following items an ice sculpture, a punch fountain rental, water display rental, honeymoon gift basket, or $50 dinner card if you have 100+ guests at a full service wedding reception with china and linen. Have a look at their website at www.delectablescatering.com Tell them I sent you!

Wedding Cakes and more

Your wedding cake is one of the more important elements of your wedding, of course, choosing your officiant is first!!! Ihear about all the delicious cake tastings that my couples attend, and it makes me hungry!! One of the establishments that I have come to know personally for coffee, and lunch is Frida's Cafe & Bakery. While there, I have had the opportunity to watch the creative staff make astonishing wedding cakes and cakes for other special occasions. Frida's is happy to help you with the design, flavor, size, and ornaments for your cake. There are a variety of pictures for review on their website. They are located in Largo and delivery is available to your location. All cakes are made with fresh eggs, butter and other wholesome ingredients. If you have a special request, it will be honored. Their prices are very reasonable. Some of the cake flavors you can select fro are carrot, marble, lemon, mocha, and raspberry, along with the standard yellow and chocolate. In addition, catering is available, it is worth your while to stop by and have a bite of breakfast quiche or lunch for yourself! They are located at 9700 Ulmerton Road in Largo, or phone them at 727-587-7077. Tell them I sent you!

Fast Party Rentals - Coast to Coast Rentals

Fast Party Rentals is the company to contact for all of your rental needs. They are committed to providing their customers with clean, professionally installed, rental equipment at a competitive rate. They carry tables, chairs, dance floor, stages, linens, dishes, candelabras, catering equipment, concession equipment, wedding accessories and more. They have tents in a variety of types, Traditional frame tents, High peaked frame tents, E-Z up tents, Pole tents, and Tent accessories. In addition to the tents, they have tent liners and drapes, sidewalls, fans, lighting, and can help you to create the beautiful setting that you have for your vision of your special event. Fast Party Rentals is located at 2230 A 31st Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida and you can phone them at 727-321-3404 or email them at e-mail@fastpartyrentals.com The owners, Jesse and Pam would be more than happy to help you determine the size and amount of materials needed. Their website is www.fastpartyrentals.com