Day of Directing Package Promotion

I have been blessed.

Over the past 10 years I have had the joy of working with hundreds of couples as they planned their wedding day. I am rewarded daily with the pleasure of watching their families grow, businesses succeed, and happiness expand.

This got me thinking...

The holidays are quickly approaching and this is the time where we all take time to say thank you for all of our blessings. The best way for me to do this is to "give back."

How can I do this in a meaningful way?

It has become very obvious to me that in these tough economic times, Brides and Grooms are really struggling to get the perfect day they want WITHOUT all the stress and drama. I know how expensive weddings can be. Brides are being forced to make the decision to plan their weddings without professional help in order to save money.

While this is entirely possible - it is NOT the best option.

Here is my gift to you:

As a way to give back for all the wonderful things in my life, I want to offer a package that will actually HELP Brides, Grooms, and their families. Generally, my Day of Directing package STARTS at $1500.

If you book your wedding with me between today and November 30th, (to be used anytime between this year and 2012), I will offer my Day of Directing at 50% off!

A flat $750 for any wedding in the state of Indiana.

What does Day of Directing Include:

• Unlimited phone calls
• Unlimited emails
• Up to 2 meetings prior to the wedding date
• Vendor management
• I become the main contact
• Complete set up & tear down
• Assist you with the rehearsal, ceremony, & reception agendas
• Be at the rehearsal to make sure everyone knows when, where, what & how
• Make sure all of the essentials are taken from the church to the reception
• Clean the church to specifications
• Make sure vendors are all there and doing what they are supposed to do
• Fix any problems that arise (a button sewed on, groomsman fainting, any fires that may pop up)
• Be on-site wedding day and be your assistant
• Create the agenda for all of the venders and send it out to them prior to wedding day confirming everything they need.

This would also include a copy of my "Ultimate Bridal Survivor Wedding Guide" (a $60 value) which is a complete planning system for DIY Brides to help you with EVERY aspect of your planning. This planner also includes separate guides for the Groom, Best Man, Maid of Honor, and both sets of parents so all the VIPs in your party know EXACTLY what to do.

This offer is only available from today until November 30th at 5 pm.

Let me take away the stress and overwhelming chaos that planning a wedding can bring and at the same time, save you some major bucks.

Call to schedule your free consultation and I promise you - it will be the best decision you ever made! I look forward to serving you.

References of past Brides and fellow vendors available on request.

Congratulations Ryan & Elizabeth!

Elizabeth was our Grand Prize winner from our winter Bridal Gala last year and she won my services - however, she and her Mom did an INCREDIBLE job planning a stunning wedding on their own!

I stepped in the week of the wedding for Day of Directing and it was abundantly clear that they knew exactly what they wanted and how they were going to do it. Move over Martha Stewart - Michele Bixler is on your tail! This family planned a beautiful wedding from start to finish and it was a pleasure getting to know them.

The ceremony was held at First Congregational Church and was packed with all of their family and friends. The flow of the ceremony was very nice and the height of it was Megan Bixler, Elizabeth's sister-in-law as she sang a beautiful rendition of The Lord's Prayer. I LOVE it when I hear music sung the right way and she hit it right on.

I also had the pleasure of working with Cybil and Brandon New (Cybil and Brandon Photography) for the first time. I really enjoyed being with them both - they are true professionals, are easy to work with and do beautiful work as you can see below. Thank you guys for making my job easier!

One of the unique things about this wedding was the reception hall. Ryan is a Rayl - a name very well known in Kokomo and his father had a large commercial spot open which they transformed into a unique and creative reception site. The families worked tirelessly to take that blank canvas and create the perfect evening for Elizabeth and Ryan and it worked! Souply's (owned by the Rayl's) provided the incredible open bar and the service was excellent.

The food was provided by the incomparable Rozzi's Catering. They set up about 6 stations complete with a pasta station, carving station and a station full of dips, crackers and other delectables. They also had shrimp shooters and bruschetta that welcomed the guests as they arrived. Jennifer, JoAnn and their staff ALWAYS work tirelessly to give their clients more than they expect and they certainly succeeded once again.

The beautiful cake was done by the Pastry Diva. Several flavors included chocolate with chocolate mousse, carrot cake, white with Raspberry - YUMM! Unfortunately, for those of us who love the Diva, this was one of her last cakes because she closes her doors at the end of October. I am sure I speak for everyone when I say we will greatly miss her incredible and sinful desserts!

At every wedding, the entertainment is crucial to the success of the reception. The Bride & Groom were determined to have the band, "The Impalas" and after I heard them I knew why. They rocked the house! They played traditional songs for the dances and then kept the huge dance floor full with hits like, "Proud Mary" & "Son of a Preacher Man." I kept thinking of events I could plug them into - they were fabulous.

All in all this wedding was a hit! Doing weddings as often as I do gives me the incredible opportunities to work with new vendors, and meet interesting people, but most importantly, to play a small part in the story of these families experiencing such joy.

Elizabeth & Ryan: here's to a life of pure joy and happiness. Always know you're friends and family will be there to back you up and do your best to soak in every fabulous moment you have together.

God Bless!

Introducing.. Mr. & Mrs. Matt & Megan Goins!

What an incredible couple!

There are times when you work with a family that you like so much you actually fall in love with them. This includes all of their fabulous friends, who by the way, really know how to party!

When I first met Megan and Matt I was at the Omni's Vendor open house. I could tell they had a very clear vision for their wedding day and I was excited to help them get what they wanted.

As we all know, life loves to throw us little curve balls - and this couple was thrown a BIG one! A priest I know once said, "a love can be so strong between a man and woman that it creates something you actually have to give a name in 9 months." Well - everyone surrounding this couple was thrilled to learn of the impending birth of "Dirk Goins" due in just 2 weeks. He behaved and stayed put during the wedding.

The beautiful ceremony was held at St. Lukes Catholic Church in Indianapolis. Megan had Flowers by Tiffany design BEAUTIFUL flowers out of rich fall colors. They were gorgeous cala lilies and really stood out against the Bridesmaids deep brown dresses.

I have to say, I really enjoyed the men in this party. They were responsible, extremely helpful and very funny. Two of them are local heros and just came back from Iraq. Thank you for your service!

I had the PLEASURE to work with photographer Jessica Strickland and she took my breath away! She was a joy to work with and the pictures she took are going to be breath-taking. On a side note, she is expecting her first child right around the time my 9th is due. To see her work, bending down and running around all night was incredible. I hope I have the chance to work with her again soon.

The reception was at the Omni downtown. Rebecca Raymond was the coordinator for the evening and was great to work with. She had to be quick on her feet because there was a slight issue with the place cards - but she did it & no one knew any better. You know when people do their jobs well because the night goes seamlessly. Thank you Rebecca! I love working at the Omni - they go above and beyond to make their weddings a night to remember. Plus, I got to spend the night there and that is always a nice treat!

The videographer was Jessica from MVP and pure joy to work with. We all worked together to give Matt and Megan a perfect evening. Thanks Jessica!

For a woman who was 9 months pregnant - Megan was radiant and full of energy the ENTIRE day! And she wore HEELS! Hats off to you woman.

And Matt, you can tell that you adore Megan which is so heart-warming for anyone to see. I so enjoyed EVERY minute I worked with you both and I am thrilled at the incredible things coming your way very, very soon.

To the both of you: here is to joy, excitement and surprises. May your life be filled with nothing but happiness.

Congratulations!

Interview with Mike Wise Photography

I had the pleasure of being interviewd by Mike Wise (one of my favorite photographers) and he asked some really interesting questions. Check out our interview at http://MikeWisePhotos.com/blog!

The Three Rules of Bridal Survival

If you are wondering exactly where to start your wedding planning - wonder no more!

This is the very first place you should start:

The Three Rules of Bridal Survival

If you consistantly keep these 3 rules in your mind while planning your wedding; I guarantee you will not only enjoy the process, but stay organized and focused at the same time.

#1. Do Not Assume!

• Don't assume your caterer's idea of classy is your idea of classy.
• Don't assume a vendor will hold your date without a signed contract and deposit.
• Don't assume your Groom knows when and where to pick up his tux.
• Don't assume your parents plan on paying for the wedding.

You get the idea. Everyone has their own idea of "perfect" and their own way of doing things. Make sure you see everything, taste everything, talk about everything and confirm everything.

#2. Write it Down!

• Get contracts in writing.
• Write down all decisions made at every meeting.
• Write down every single picture you want taken.
• Write down who will be doing what the day of the wedding.

You will ABSOLUTELY forget something and it is critical you have records of everything you plan.

#3. Do Not Forget

• Don't forget that a wedding is a family affair. Make sure you include the people that raised you and got you to this point in your life.
• Don't forget to treat EVERYONE (vendors, family, friends) with respect and class.
• Don't forget why you are planning a wedding in the first place: to marry the love of your life. The party is great, but it's the marriage that you should concentrate on.

Apply these 3 rules and I promise you your planning experience will be more enjoyable and everything you wanted.

Congratulations Erica and Bob!

One of my pure joys in this business is watching families grow.

Another perfect little one has entered the world to a great couple. Erica and Bob welcomed their first child, Hunter Browning, into this world July 30th at 7:36 am.

He was 8 lbs 7 oz and 21 inches long. A very good size for mamma - and he is adorable!

CONGRATULATIONS to the new parents and here's to parenthood!

How to Save Money for & on Your Wedding

In this budget-savy time we live in, saving money has become more and more important.

But where do you find REAL ideas that WORK?

I have written a free ebook:

"The Most Successful Ways to Save on Your Wedding... and They Really WORK!"

for anyone that is looking for time-tested, creative and even practical ways to planning your dream wedding without breaking your bank account. It is completely FREE!

Check it out and see what you think!

http://www.tharpevents.com/register.html