2010 Best of Weddings Award Winner

We are thrilled to announce Your Special Day has been selected by The Knot as the 2010 Best of Weddings in the wedding planner category in the Southeast Region of the United States.  

This recognition is a true honor as the newlyweds in our area were asked to rate vendors on multiple criteria, from creativity to professionalism to real experiences, and the results are tallied by an independent survey firm. 

The Knot is one of America's leading wedding resources reaching out to millions of engaged couples each year through an award-winning website, books, magazines, and broadcast offerings.

The Knot's Best of Weddings publication will be on news stands this week and the website listing can be found on www.theknot.com in January.

New Bern with Mary and Mike

We met Mary and Mike at the wedding show in January. After our first consultation I knew I wanted to help Mary's dream wedding become a reality. Mary was an angel to work with, the type of person that truly lights up a room when she enters. Kristen, Michelle and I were so honored to be a part of Mary and Mike's special day!

We had such an incredible team of vendors working with us. Jason and Christine with Azul Photography spent the day documenting this wonderful celebration. We have just a few photos to share!
 

Mary and Mike personalized their wedding in so many ways starting with Mike actually giving Mary her grandmother's engagement ring.  Mary wore her mother's veil and enhanced her bouquet with broaches from both of her grandmothers.  I am sure the cuff links Mary gave Mike for a wedding gift will show up in wedding photos years down the road.

 

Our ceremony took place at Christ Episcopal Church in historic downtown New Bern followed by the reception at the Abilena Plantation.  So many wonderful vendors participated in making this a perfect weekend. 

Lewis Bordeau Enterprises partnered with Classic Party Rentals to helps us with our tenting, lighting and other rental needs creating the perfect setting on the water front of Abileana Plantation.


Shelley with Expresions of Love Florist truly captured Mary's vision with the floral arrangments.  After a fabulous dinner caterered by The Chelsea, the guests were treated to a multi-tiered, multi-flavored cake designed by Sweet Memories Bakery.  Everyone danced the night away to The Johnny Dollar Band from Greenville, North Carolina.

The beautiful classic car was provided by Britannia Coach LTD.

We hope this is just the first of many weddings in New Bern! 

YSD proudly apart of another feature article in The Bride's Book!

The Fall/Winter 2010 issue of The Bride's Book has been published and Your Special Day is pleased to announce that it is apart of another featured article. Back in July, the YSD team helped made Melissa and Mike's Wedding Day dreams become reality. The love and intimacy of their special day grabbed our attention, so we shared a few photographs with one of our favorite publications. You can find their article and pictures by clicking on the link below and going to pages 49-51.


Click here for viewing!

Why We Do What We Do!

When we meet with potential clients about our services, it is sometimes difficult to educate couples about the benefits of hiring a planner. We all know you need flowers, cake and food, but do you really need a planner? This concept still amazes me as I personally can not imagine investing the resources required for today's weddings without hiring a professional to insure that everything will come together as planned.

Our consultants can talk about our services, company and share funny wedding stories for days, but I would like for you to read Melissa's words. Melissa took the time to write this second letter of appreciate a month after her wedding.

When we receive this kind of feedback, it confirms "why we do what we do".

From Intern to Consultant...

Today marks the completion of the 10-week internship here at Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events. It has been one of the best experiences of my life. I have learned so much during this internship about the aspects of planning a wedding or an event. During these past two months I have also enjoyed working with such special brides. Each and every one of them have been such a pleasure to work with! I have also been very blessed to have been given the opportunity to learn from such a talented, caring, and prestigious wedding planner. Words cannot describe the thanks and appreciation I have for her. She has taught me almost everything I know about becoming a successful wedding consultant, from paying attention to the details of an event to holding confidence when meeting with clients. I have grown a special relationship with her that words cannot describe. Thank you Shawn for everything and giving me such a wonderful experience here.

~Kristen Trexler~

Just Because...

Sometimes I need to just share my thoughts and this is one of those times. As we promised, here are two wedding photos from Melissa and Mike’s wedding. The photos are absolutely beautiful, but not only because of Tammy Wingo’s photography skills, but because of what I know about this couple and their family. I got to know Melissa’s family over the last year and if I could bottle and sell the love and respect I witnessed, I would be a very wealthy woman. My wish for Melissa and Mike is that their love is always as radiant as the love I witnessed between her parents. ~Shawn

Beautiful Inside and Out: Melissa & Mike

Melissa and Mike have to be one of the sweetest couples. They have been an absolute pleasure to work with this past year. We have enjoyed working with them so much that it was kind of hard to see this day arrive! Melissa and Mike had their ceremony at the beautiful Hidden Haven Farm in Apex. The guest then traveled to Prestonwood Country Club for the reception. It was another beautiful reception at Prestonwood with excellent vendors to work with. A special thanks to Hidden Haven Farm, Prestonwood Country Club, Tammy Wingo Photography, FreshAffairs, EastCoast Entertainment and the Deja vu band, Total Production Services, CE Rentals, Udo & Emi Hildebrandt, Chip Harrell, and Blue Diamond Limo for all their work in making this day memorable for this wonderful couple. We can't wait to share wedding photos from Tammy Wingo!

PRESS RELEASE

Raleigh, N.C. -- -- Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events announced today that owner Shawn Schindler, owner, has been appointed to the board of directors for the Greater Triangle Chapter of the International Special Events Society (ISES).

“I consider this an honor to serve on a board with some of the states most esteemed wedding and event professionals” says Schindler. “As a company, we are excited about the opportunity to expand our knowledge of the wedding and event industry.”

The International Special Events Society (ISES), was founded in 1987, to fosters enlightened performance through education while promoting ethical conduct. ISES works to join professionals to focus on the “event as a whole” rather than it’s individual parts.

“I consider this an honor to serve on a board with some of the states most esteemed wedding and events professionals” says Schindler. “As a company, we are excited about the opportunity to expand our in-depth knowledge of the wedding and event industry.”

The Schindler’s acceptance of the board position comes just weeks before the three year anniversary of Your Special Day. “The timing is perfect. as Wwe are able to continue to provide our couples with superior service, yet serve the profession we are so passionate about.”

Schindler has been in the wedding industry for 9 years, starting Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events Inc three3 years ago. She is the recipient of has won the 2007 and 2008 Reader’s Choice Award for “Favorite Wedding Consultant” by Bride’s Book Magazine in the “Favorite Wedding Consultant” category by Bride’s Book Magazine.

“Your Special Day is currently based in Raleigh, but has a team of professional, experienced consultants that serve wedding couples state-wide.

A place to share your special day in nature...

We would like to introduce a new special venue located here in the Triangle area. Willow Pond Homeplace is the perfect backdrop for an intimate outdoor wedding and reception. This venue offers a selection of ceremony and reception sites as well as many flourishing characteristics. Your Special Day is excited to share this new venue with our colleagues as well as clients. If you are looking for a venue to book a fall wedding, this is the perflect place!

Please contact Your Special Day for more information.

Restaurant Feature: Mez in Durham - The Bride's Book Spring/Summer 2009

Earlier this year Shawn, Emily, Sarah, and Kristen worked together on a photoshoot featuring the Mez, a contemporary mexican restaurant, in Durham. The food is as fabulous as the photos. Thank you Walters and Walters for remarkable photography, Fresh Affairs for the beautiful flower and candle decor, Sweet Memories Bakery for the astounding cake, and Invitation Creations for their well-designed print pieces. Here is the layout of this feature in The Bride's Book. Get your new Spring/Summer 2009 publication today! You can find the Mez article on pages 25, 29, and 31.

Unique and Personalized: Ashley & Nick

Simple, fun, inimitable….we could probably keep describing our exciting wedding this past weekend at All Saints Chapel and Humble Pie. Ashley and Nick picked Sunday to gather with close friends and family and share their special day. We would like to thank Story Photography, All Saints Chapel, Humble Pie, Kelly Odom Flowers, and Sweet Memories for helping to make this day a true reflection of Ashley and Nick’s style.

Spectacular and Elegant: Sandra & Luciano

Just wanted to give you all a sneak preview of the spectacular and elegant
wedding we were so honored to be a part of this past weekend. Sandra and
Luciano have been a joy to work with this past year and we are absolutely thrilled how everything turned out. Your Special Day helped select some of the most talented vendors in the area, working together to make Saturday's wedding unforgettable! We would like to thank Prestonwood Country Club, Total Production Services, Capital Style, Simpson Productions, Joe Bunn DJ Company, Sweet Memories Bakery, Fresh Affairs, CE Rentals, Ice Occasions, Invitation-Creations, Kyle Stephenson, Azul Photography, and Unlimited for helping us make this day truly special for this awesome couple. Azul Photography graciously

give us a few incredible photographs so we can give everyone a
quick look at this magnificent wedding. We will share more with you in the
coming days.

New Intern - Kristen Trexler

Good Afternoon everyone! I just wanted to take a few minutes and introduce myself. My name is Kristen Trexler and I just started a full-time internship with Your Special Day yesterday - which I am extremely excited about! I have been working with Shawn and her amazing team for about 6 months now. As a student at North Carolina State University (Go Wolfpack!), we are encouraged to join the Greater Triangle NC Chapter of ISES. Early last year I met Shawn at one of the ISES meetings and started talking to her and that is where it all began! I have assisted with a few weddings and now will be working with her and her team fulltime. I have met many of our bride's, but look forward to meeting the rest in the next few weeks.

Meet Mary and Mike

I have always been blessed with wonderful clients, each bringing something special to my life. Mary and Mike are no exception! From our first meeting, I knew they were truly a special couple. I am excited to post one of their engagement photos taken on the docks of New Bern. Mary and I could not pick just one, so this is a personal favorite of photographer, Jason Arthurs, with Azul Photography.

Preston Woodall House and Gardens - Bed and Breakfast

Preston Woodall House and Gardens - Bed and Breakfast

Another amazing opportunity! Your Special Day, along with two other great consultants, are planning an Open House for The Preston Woodall House on March 31, 2009! Collaborating with Angie and Tracy has been a blast...working together to design an event you do not want to miss. For more information, contact Your Special Day at shawn@makingyourdayspecial.com.

Cary Magazine Presents ::: Elegant Weddings Gala ::: March 5th, 2009

Cary Magazine Presents ::: Elegant Weddings Gala ::: March 5th, 2009

Your Special Day is excited to participate in the Elegant Wedding Gala at The Umstead Hotel and Spa. We so enjoyed our weddings at The Umstead last year, we could not miss out on the opportunity to spend the evening with the areas best vendors in one of our favorite locations. We hope to see you there!

Thank you...Walters and Walters Photography

Finally a personal photo I like! Girls..you know what I am talking about! James Walters shot the layout for The Mez Restaurant feature in the spring issue of the Bride's Book with the staff of YSD! So...we took advantage of his amazing photography skills! Michelle, unfortunately, was not with us that day...as soon as we get her photo, you can meet more of the YSD team!

My thoughts...

I am trying to write a new bio for several publications and it would be easy to go back to the text we have published in the past, for some reason this is not working for me tonight. I really don’t know what will end up in print but this is what is running through my mind…

I love weddings! I am so passionate about this business, I never get tired of looking at wedding photos, magazines, talking with potential clients and our vendors but most importantly, working with YSD clients to design and orchestrate their day! I never dreamed of owning my own business….still don’t enjoy the corporate role I have to play, but each wedding brings new life to our business, a new energy to what we want to do in the future. We recognize each blessing that is placed in our path and are thankful to all that have taken this amazing journey with Your Special Day.

Sunday Afternoon Fun!

What a great afternoon! Emily, Kristen, Sarah and myself just finished working on a photo shoot for The Bride's Book. Look for the restaurant feature of The Mez in Durham in the upcoming issue. Coming up with the design was exciting but actually seeing all the pieces work together gave me chills! Thank you to FreshAffairs for our flowers, Chair and Equipment Rental for all the "stuff", Invitation-Creations for our print needs, Sweet Memories for the super cool cake and most importantly, to James Walters, with Walters & Walters, for his incredible photography skills! Another thank you to the staff at The Mez for making us feel welcomed and for the amazing snacks!

Jessica and Anthony

I could write about this wedding forever and post 100's of photos! Jessica and Anthony were absolutely wonderful to work with for 16 months! The wedding weekend was a complete fairy tale for both the bride and the planner. You will have an opportunity to view more photos from this wedding, photographed by Kevin Milz Photography, in the upcoming issue of The Brides Book.

It is exciting to be posting my first Blog Entry. It is our goal for you to experience some of the amazing weddings we have had an opportunity to be a part of, meet clients we now consider friends and to help you plan your special day. We hope you enjoy our site!