One word: FUN.

Heidi and Festy are such fun, laid back and creative people. I had such a fun time working with Heidi on the details of the wedding – she had such awesome ideas and willingness to think outside the box.

They had originally wanted to be married out at her grandparent’s farm. However, Nebraska weather is never predictable and she didn’t want to run the risk of inclement weather on her wedding day. (The weather on the wedding day ended up being absolutely BEAUTIFUL – however, the day before the wedding was very COLD with high WINDS). Good thing she chose the movie theater.

Heidi constructed the marriage ceremony herself, highly personalizing every aspect. This was truly a marriage ceremony about Heidi and Festy. Her cousin Heather became ordained and was able to officiate the wedding for the couple. How cool. With a few readings (one being from the Velveteen Rabbit) and a guitar performance, and a hand tying ceremony, and a kiss to seal the deal – it was off to Lincoln to begin the party at Chez Hay. And party is what everyone did.

After dinner and toasts, and an impromptu toast from the father of the bride (not a dry eye in the place) the dancing commenced. Heidi and Festy had QUITE a few close friends (they were really just like family) travel from Chicago to celebrate. You could tell this group knew how to have fun, there was dancing and laughing all night long. You could feel the happiness and excitement in the room.

Thank you Heidi and Festy for letting me be a part of such a special day. I’ll look you up when I am in Chicago next!

Vendors:

Bella Signature Events

Rivoli Movie Theater

Something New Productions - thanks for the photos - you rock!

Theatrical Media Services

Luxury Limousine

Stem Gallery

Chez Hay

Sweet Art Wedding Cakes

A Sound Impression – DJ

Best Styles Formalwear

Client Insight

I asked Sally to answer a few questions, and here we have it.


Here we go:

1. Why did you hire a wedding planner to assist you in planning your wedding?
We live in CT and planned to get married in Nebraska. Both of us have extremely demanding jobs therefore; we knew we could not devote the necessary time and efforts it takes planning for a wedding.
2. What was something that surprised you about the planning process? The amount of details involved as well as time it takes.
3. What percentage of the decisions regarding the wedding was made by you? Your husband? Jointly? Made by the Bride – 50%, Made by the Groom – 5%, Jointly – 45%.
4. Is there anything you would have done differently? I would have un buttoned the bottom of my skirt so I had the short train at the church….. I would have made sure the DJ kept the lights on during our wedding dance and relatives performances, I would have asked the DJ to shut off the flashing lights as it was a nuisance to the guests, I would have lost weight instead of gained weight………… Shifted any of your priorities? All in all it was just a few minor things (except the weight piece) – nothing major – oh, I probably would have spent a little less on flowers and a little more on food. I would have had a buffet instead of a sit down dinner – takes too much effort in asking for the guests choice. OR perhaps I would have NOT given them a choice and gave them all Chicken or half and half.
5. When you think back on your wedding day, what is your favorite memory?
Outside of my 50 year old cousin Tom slow dancing with my 30 year old friend Daryl who has a disability, I would say my favorite memory was Vernon’s speech at the reception, followed by my son’s toast via the telephone from Fort Knox, then followed by Vernon’s daughters toast at the reception.
6. Anything else you would like to add? Absolutely! There is no way this event could have been pulled off this successful if it wasn’t for my wedding planner. Sara paid attention to every detail, kept everything on track and on schedule, remained calm and very professional when the DJ’s sound system (a vendor that I selected) failed and implemented a back up plan immediately that ended up very successful. Not only did Sara tend to every detail, she was the only one that asked me (the bride) if I had a way to the church and then picked me up and drove me there personally. She assisted with helping the bridal party get dressed – had bobby pins and safety pins ready, etc. Sara was the first to arrive at the church and the last to leave the reception. As my wedding song goes…. “I could not ask for more”! She took all the stress off of me and was worth every penny….. Which was extremely reasonable.

The day started at Christ United Methodist Church in which Vernon’s brother David Gauge Veira performed “Hands High” and had all of the guests on their feet with their hands in the air! Sally’s cousin Trevor Racine also had an amazing performance! What a talented family. Sally and Vernon made a point to embrace the blending of their two families and honored each and every family member. Pastor Jim Miller officiated the wedding, and coordinator Sharon Nilsson helped send everyone down the aisle. We couldn’t have done it without them!

After the ceremony, they took a Harley Davidson Limousine to Wilderness Ridge to start the party.
Sally and Vernon had a choreographed first dance that the wonderful Cali Hlavac from A Sound Impression captured on film. You can check out the video on her blog. She also single-handedly saved the day! The DJ had a malfunction of his equipment and she was unable to play any of the special songs – included the choreographed first dance music! Without a second thought, Cali ran to her office and gathered all the necessary equipment to allow the night to go on without interruption. THANK YOU CALI!!!!
The very creative Misty from Sweet Art Wedding Cakes provided the elegant (and colorful) cakes for the evening. There were 5 flavors and they all tasted de-lish! Anne and her crew from the Midtown Hy-Vee provided all the beautiful flowers for the day.
The very talented and sweet Jamy Sullivan took the photos of the day. She suggested Sally and Vernon take a “Where’s Waldo” photo – in which all of their guests surround them on the dance floor and she captured a big group shot. I think it turned out awesome! Thanks Jamy for all the great photos!

Everyone danced the night away until a limo whisked them away to the Cornhusker Hotel.
I had a great time working with Sally and Vernon – they are two very dynamic individuals and I am so pleased they chose me to be a part of their big day! I wish them the best of luck in the future – and hope to see them around town someday!

Wedding Recap

Hello!

I hope everyone enjoyed their long Labor Day weekend. Two clients of mine got married over the weekend, and the weather was gorgeous! The air conditioning went out in the sanctuary of their church a couple months ago. It was not set to be fixed before they got married, so we were hoping for cool weather. Lucky for everyone, the temperature in the sanctuary stayed fairly mild; I didn't see anyone break a sweat!

It was the first Husker game of the season, and it never even crossed my mind that there was a game going on. All the RSVP'd guests showed up, and all attention was on the bride and groom the entire night. (I did receive notice at the end of the night that the Huskers did win - Woohoo!)

I really enjoyed working with these to on their wedding. It was great to meet all their family - everyone was so personable and inviting. Weddings do bring out the best in people - and I loved being a part of it.

**I want to give a shout out to Cali - with A Sound Impression. She was there catching everything on video when the DJ's equipment (from another company) was not working correctly. Cali also offers DJ services and she had equipment back at the office that we could use. While everyone was eating, she ran to the office and got her equipment. Her equipment ran smoothly, and the rest of the night went great. THANKS CALI FOR SAVING THE NIGHT!!

Once my clients get home from their honeymoon I will post some pictures and their client interview.

Happy Planning!

Okay Ladies, listen up. You found the perfect guy and you know you want to marry him. We all know love has nothing to do with the carat of the diamond, or the place he proposes..... but it sure makes the love sweeter. So, if you think your boyfriend could benefit from a little guidance and creativity, have him give us a call. We will help create a proposal that will knock your socks off, and if he needs help picking out the ring... we can do that to. :)


So, have him call 402.486.3793 OR visit www.makehersayyes.net or email sara@bellasignatureevents.com


Good luck ladies!

plan B and thinking outside the box

I received inspiration from two of my clients a couple days ago to write this post. They had originally planned to get married on her grandfather's farm. It would have been a beautiful (and meaningful) setting, but Nebraska weather is just too darn unpredictable. So, they came up with Plan B.

They are now getting married inside of a movie theater. It's an old historic movie theater that has been updated (think plush purple reclining seats)and has tons of charm. Not your traditional locale to get married, but an awesome place, none the less.

When the guests arrive they will be greeted by bags of popcorn and handed a playbill that will list the "cast" members.

The owners of the theater were SOO happy to host this wedding at their beloved movie theater. We could not have done this without their willingness to be flexible and make it work. I can't wait to see how the pictures turn out - I will be sure to post some pictures so maybe you can gain some inspiration from their unusual ceremony site!

I have to thank my clients for thinking outside of the box for plan B. I think they have come up with awesome ideas that have in turn sparked my creativity. I can't wait for the big day!

My lovely bride-to-be Margo has accepted the opportunity to become a guest blogger. She is willing to share her insight as we trek through this planning process. Enjoy!

Take The I Out of Bride

Margo A. Rehm ( Hamilton )

If I am to believe We “Television for Women” and its plethora of bridal shows, I’m going about this whole process all wrong. I don’t refer to October 17, 2009 as MY DAY , I haven’t engaged in screaming matches with my bridesmaids. I don’t obsessively call my fiancé and chastise him for not taking more interest in the wedding color scheme. I don’t have a tiara or request to be called a princess. Our bridal party is not large enough to fill a lecture hall. Our wedding reception will not be suff oca ted by pink or Tiffany blue. I’m not refinancing anything, or maxing out credit cards so that our Cinderella’s Carriage-shaped wedding cake can be pulled by ice-sculpture horses. Generally speaking, I refrain from yelling obscenities at vendors, or my lovely wedding planner.

Nope. Clearly I’ve got this whole thing all wrong. According to popular lore about brides, yes, I’m screwing this whole thing up. I really should be taking advantage of all these people who are catering to MY NEEDS and desires. Yes, because that is what weddings are supposed to be about. Making the bride happy, not upsetting the bride. Doing exactly as the bride would have you do on all accounts, precisely when she asks or else!

Personally, I think making your wedding day “all about me” is pretty much the dumbest thing you could do. Correct me if I’m wrong, but a wedding is a ceremony, and a celebration of TWO people coming together before their family and friends. It’s about relationships; why as a bride its okay to destroy your relationships prior to the event is beyond me. Because we’ve all seen those shows, do you really want to be that bridesmaid who has to go in for a weight check 2 weeks before the wedding? Is that the tone you want at your ceremony?

Forget it. I’m excited about our wedding. I can’t wait for October 17, 2009 . After months of planning and work with everyone it will be simply amazing to see everything together, live and in person. Throughout this whole process my future husband and I have both agreed, the exchange of vows is the most important thing, a very close second is providing a nice party for all our friends and family. At the end of the day so long as I’m married to my man, and the people who attend have a great time our wedding will be a rousing success. This day is about love, and family, not me or my hair.

Of course I’ve had my moments. Every now and again my Mom and I get into it over something. My fiancé still won’t stop bitching about the harpist at our ceremony. (Seriously, if I have to hear about the damn harp one more time I might scream, he’s not even gonna hear it, he’ll have the jitters so bad standing at the alter.) Even so, it’s been an experience of a lifetime. Lacking bridal blowouts though I may be, I’m totally in love with our wedding. Don’t be fooled by my lackadaisical attitude. From our reception hall to our, DJ, the flowers, food, my dress; it’s all amazing. I really can’t believe its happening; I can’t wait to share this day with everyone.

Hello!!

My Girl Friday has been changed to Bella Signature Events - and you can check out our new blog at www.bellasignatureevents.blogspot.com and our website at bellasignatureevents.com.

We hope to see you there!!

Sara Brown

Welcome!

Welcome to Bella Signature events!

We are passionate about creating timeless events that are as unique as our clients. We specialize in crafting a cohesive design in all the elements and details of your wedding day. The wedding that is created will truly be reflective of you and your fiance and the love that is shared between you two.

It is also important that a bride and groom not be bothered by imperfections on their wedding day. The cake may arrive late and the ring bearer may need a nap, but the bride and groom won't be privy to that information with Bella Signature Events in attendance. We limit the amount of imperfections that arise on your wedding day, and put out any "fires" that may come along. It's not often couples throw parties where a dozen vendors need to coordinate their schedules and duties. It's not an easy task, and sometimes the small details get overlooked. This is where we will step in and close the gap where one vendor's duties ended, and another vendor's duties began. You truly will be a guest at your own wedding.

We are professional. We keep up to date with the latest trends and create new ones. We are always learning. We are creative. We are passionate about throwing parties that no one will forget but everyone will talk about. We are limitless. We know no boundaries (except those that exceed the budget). We want to spark friendship and watch two people fall deeply in love. We want to see the future in the events we create today.

We want to meet you, the love of your life, and the person who grounds you (usually a parental figure). We want to talk about your vision for the day and how you want to make people feel. When you evoke emotion at events (whether it be excitement, happiness or contentment) people remember. We want to team up with you and our fabulous group of top notch vendors to create a day that is so fabulous you will already start planning for the vow renewal.

Contact us today, we can't wait to hear from you.

Sara Brown
Owner, Bella Signature Events

Marriage License

Before the big day - you and your husband-to-be will need to obtain a marriage license. Here is all the information you need to know. This is taken directly from lincoln.ne.gov website. (http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/cnty/clerk/marriage.htm)

Lancaster County Clerk
Marriage License Requirements
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
•Fee of $15.00 in cash or check
•Proof of identity/age: A Driver's License or Passport
Statute 42-104 states "Each party shall present satisfactory documentary proof and shall swear or affirm to the application giving: (1) Full name of each applicant and residents: and (2) the place, date and year of birth of each."

It is customary in this office to require a photo ID as "satisfactory documentary proof" of identity. Driver's licenses, state id's, passports and green cards are satisfactory. A birth certificate by itself cannot positively establish identity.

•Applicants must verbally supply Social Security numbers if they have one.
•License is good for one year from date of application any place in Nebraska and there is no waiting period (you have one year to use the license to get married, if not, it will expire and you will need to come in and reapply)
•Applicants must supply the names of their parents (including mother's maiden name), and their parent's birthplaces
•If applicant(s) has been married previously, the date the previous marriage ended will be requested (Court date or date of death). If your divorce is in the State of Nebraska, there is a waiting period of six months and one day after it is granted by a Judge. An applicant must wait until the waiting period is over before they can apply for a marriage license anywhere in the State of Nebraska.
•If either applicant is not of legal age (19), a notarized consent form must be signed by the person's legal guardian giving consent to the marriage of the minor. If either applicant is under 17 years of age, license cannot be issued in the State of Nebraska. After selecting the Consent Form, it will load into Acrobat Reader, which will allow you to fill it out on-line then print it out.
if you do not yet have it installed on your computer.
•In order for either applicant to change their last name they will need to purchase a certified copy for $5.00, which can be pre-paid at the time of getting the marriage license. We would mail your certified copy out to you after we have received the license and certificate of marriage back from the person who performed the ceremony and have processed it (usually takes 3 to 5 days). You will need to take the certified copy with you to the 2 main name change offices - the Social Security Office and the Driver's License Bureau. It is not required that the $5 be paid at the time of getting the marriage license, but if you plan on changing your name, you will need the certified copy.

•Marriage ceremonies can be performed by the following persons:
** A couple can be married by Judge John Hoffert after 5 pm weekdays or on weekends and an appointment must be made with him by calling (402)471-3512.


** The following three Retired Judges will perform a wedding ceremony for a couple at a place of their convenience:
Judge Ted Vrana - 402-488-0316
Judge Mark Buchholz - 402-489-3140
Judge Daniel Beckwith - 402-720-7669, Email danieljbeckwith@gmail.com

•The Lancaster County Clerk's Office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and we are not closed over the lunch hour. Our office is located at 555 South 10th Street, Room 108, Lincoln.
•All marriage licenses obtained in Lancaster County are public record and will be printed in the Lincoln Journal Star and the Daily Reporter including name, age and city and state of both parties without exception. These publications print only marriage licenses obtained in Lancaster County.

Apologies.

I have to apologize. This blog has been put at the bottom of the to-do list for weeks now. I do have a good excuse though, because between planning and coordinating weddings, and bringing a child into the world – life got slightly hectic. So, without further ado it’s time to play catch up. And here’s a picture of the little girl that has been keeping my blogging to a minimum.

Midwest Bridal Association Bridal Panel

On April 7th, I attended a Midwest Bridal Association (www.mwbride.com) meeting and bridal panel. I want to thank all the brides that participated in the panel! They provided invaluable feedback as they answered everyone’s questions openly and honestly.
The brides ranged from just recently engaged to already married. The girls each had their own unique sense of style which lent to a wide variety of opinions they were willing to share. Some of the hot topics discussed were budgets (tend to start small and end big), where they find their wedding vendors (Google was a popular place!) and why they hire some wedding vendors (everyone wants a photographer) and not others (not everyone wants a videographer).
As a wedding vendor it was refreshing to listen to what brides had to share. My goal as a wedding planner is to listen to what the brides want – and help them create that vision. I look forward to attending more of these bridal panels and listening to what you have to say!
For the brides that follow this blog: Feel free to leave your comments and questions! We love to hear from you!

Kassie and Jared

I had the pleasure of working with two of the most laid back people I know. (Or maybe they were laid back because they had hired a wedding planner... who knows.) They got married in Superior, Nebraska on a beautifully sunny day in April. The ceremony and reception took place at Superior Estates Winery - a beautiful landscape to get married near. The following picture shows off the craftmanship of the building the wine tastings and reception festivities take place in.

Kassie personalized her wedding in quite a few ways. Her funky, but classy blue wedding shoes are an example.

One of Jared's good friends performed a guitar solo during the lighting of their unity candle. Boy did he have talent!!











Overall, the day went smoothly. Rain was in the forcast but the skies remained sunny and calm all day long. Her family and friends were wonderful people and made the day enjoyable and memorable. One of her ushers even agreed to spread petals down the aisle for them because they didn't have a flower girl. Talk about taking one for the team!!

All of her vendors were wonderful to work for and if you care to hear feedback regarding the vendor's performance, Kassie and Jared are more than willing to share their thoughts. Just shoot me an email at sara@my-girl-friday and put vendor feedback in the subject line, and I will get you lined up with Kassie and Jared.

Vendors:
Ceremony/Reception Venue: Superior Estates Winery
Photography: Turner Photography
Catering: Jon Eisenhower
Cake: Dragonfly Desserts
Flowers: Main Street Floral

Thanks Kassie and Jared for letting us share your special day!!! Can't wait to see what the future holds for the both of you!!


Photos courtesy of Turner Photography www.turner-photography.com

Apologies.

Peter Merry and “The Best Wedding Reception…Ever”

A couple weeks ago I attended a meeting in Omaha for NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) and they had an entertaining and very informative keynote speaker. His name is Peter Merry and he is known as a “Wedding Entertainment Director”, a term he coined himself.
A Wedding Entertainment Director does much more than play pre-recorded music and blandly make announcements. A Wedding Entertainment Director is responsible for professionally creating an unforgettable and entertaining reception that your guests will still be talking about for years to come. I wish this guy lived in Lincoln, he would be booked solid for years to come. He did say he would travel though…
He has authored a book; “The Best Wedding Reception…Ever “ (I scored a signed copy!). The book offers tons of ways to make your wedding day and reception flow smoothly (by hiring the right vendors, timing of events, etc.) and offers many ways to personalize your wedding. Here is one of his great ideas at work right here:



I loved his ideas and his energy. He kept everyone’s attention for the entire duration of his presentation, and I was disappointed when it concluded. You can imagine how entertaining the receptions he directs are!
If you are a client of mine and interested in incorporating some of his ideas into your own wedding, borrow my copy of his book for a week or two. We can start brainstorming and discussing ways to utilize his ideas in your wedding. You and your guests will be happy you did!
For more information on Peter Merry and what a Wedding Entertainment Director is, you can visit his website at: www.weddingentertainmentdirector.com and you can purchase his book on www.amazon.com and www.thebestweddingreceptionever.com.