Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events

Meredith & Bobby

2012-01-30T22:16:00.010-05:00

We are so excited to finally show you all highlights from Meredith & Bobby's incredible wedding that took place last May! Inkspot Crow Films did an amazing job on this feature video!

We are equally as excited to share with you our feature in Southern Bride & Groom Magazine as part of Meredith and Bobby's big day! Read the article for a summary of their elaborate evening, and make sure to check out all the wonderful vendors we worked with to make this night happen!

WeddingWire Release: Bride's Choice Awards 2012!

2012-01-25T00:28:00.000-05:00

(Raleigh,NC) – January 24, 2012 – WeddingWire, the nation's leading wedding Marketplace, is excited to announce Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events has been selected to receive the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012 for Wedding Planning!

The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. While many industry awards are selected by the organization, Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events was selected based on its stellar reviews from past newlywed clients.

Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events is recognized as part of the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire local vendor community, comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States and Canada. The Bride’s Choice Award recognizes the best local wedding vendors across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is thrilled to honor the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Since the launch of the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program four years ago, thousands of outstanding wedding professionals have been recognized by the bridal community for their supreme service and dedication to the wedding industry. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events for their continued professionalism and commitment to enriching the wedding planning experience for engaged couples.”

We are happy to announce that Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events is one of the very best Wedding Planners within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. Thanks to their positive feedback we were able to receive the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2012.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today.

To learn more about the Bride's Choice Awards™, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire™, the nation's leading marketplace serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 reviewed wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers. WeddingWire also offers a comprehensive suite of online planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire is the only all-in-one marketing platform for businesses online and on-the-go. WeddingWire offers one simple solution to build a professional network, improve search visibility, manage social media and reach mobile consumers. Businesses that advertise with WeddingWire appear on WeddingWire.com, ProjectWedding.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), Brides.com and Weddingbee.com.

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Just Have To Share...

2011-09-16T08:40:00.002-04:00

We love getting reviews like this one!!

I am the mother of the bride. My daughter and her now husband were engaged in April and decided that August was the best time for them to get married. That basically gave us 4 months to plan an out of town wedding !!!

To say I was panicked was putting it mildly ! My daughter and I were beginning to do some preliminary planning ( she living in Raleigh and I in South Carolina). We went into a bridal store in Raleigh to look at dresses and I asked about wedding planners. I was given Shawn's card and told that she was the best ! My daughter was not too keen on having any outside help because she had a vision for her day and didn't want someone else to plan it !!

After two days of wedding planning, on the third day, I called Shawn at 8:30 am. After apologizing profusely for calling so early, I told her my situation and that I needed help with a capital H ! I felt an immediate bond with her and though she was leaving to go out of town that morning, she took the time to go through the process with me and calmed me down and assured me that the task at hand was not the impossible thing I thought it was !!
I hired Shawn for day of co-ordination, but along with that came all the phone calls we needed to get advice and direction. She gave us vendor recommendations and feedback.
My daughter had the most beautiful wedding ever....it screamed her personality and wonderful taste. She and her groom made all the big decisions for their wedding day and reception. Shawn guided me through all the other details.......for which I am forever grateful.

Two weeks before the wedding my daughter and I and Shawn and our caterer sat down together to finalize all the details. After the meeting my daughter told me how grateful she was that we had Shawn to help us. Shawn was the glue that held everything together for us. Although my daughters plan was gorgeous, Shawn was able to suggest the finishing touches that completed the plan !
The week of the wedding Shawn took over all the vendors and any coordination that was left to take of. We were able to relax and spend that time together as a family.
The wedding day went so smoothly with Shawn and Michelle's calm and professional manner. My husband and I were able to relax and leave everything to them. It was truly a blessing for all of us to have the day and evening in their capable hands. We were able to be with our famliy and friends and enjoy the moment.

Calling her that morning was one of the smartest moments of my life !!

Heart & Soul

2011-09-01T14:39:00.001-04:00

It is such an exciting time of year for us! The fall is a great season to get married...and boy are we busy! We have so much to look forward to in the upcoming months and we are so fortunate to a part of our clients’ Special Days because this truly is our passion. But, this coming February we have the chance to be a part of something little different and very special.

We are proud to announce that Shawn has been appointed as the Head Logistics Chair for the 2012 American Heart Association’s 27th Annual Triangle American Heart Ball to be held on February 25, 2012 at the Raleigh Convention Center.

The American Heart Association is based on the belief that one individual can save lives. Their mission is to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. They target three main goals within their mission: improving family health, improving community health, and ensuring quality health care for all.

This year, the American Heart Association’s goal is to raise $850,000 to go towards ending heart disease and stroke in our lifetime. Emily, Lee Ann, Michelle, and I will make up Shawn’s committee and we are all ready to do our part and help this wonderful organization achieve this goal. Our team is ready to face this challenge head on and we have a few surprises planned for the evening. We want to make the 27th Heart Ball the BEST one yet!

I personally am so excited to be supporting this organization. The mission of the American Heart Association is one that is very close to my own heart. Be on the lookout for updates in planning this event by following me on twitter @Amanda_at_YSD

Joie and Cody

2011-08-25T17:57:00.002-04:00

Watch Joie and Cody's rockin' film that showcases their unique style here!

Allison and Brett

2011-08-24T12:34:00.000-04:00

Flipping through the new Summer/Fall 2010 "Southern Bride Groom" flooded my memory with rich and vibrant oranges featured in past weddings, but I was especially reminded of Allison and Brett's "summer evening" ceremony in September 2009.

Allison found us to be the perfect partner in planning the Triangle area wedding, since she was then living in California and Brett was in flight school in Penascola.

They chose the Preston Woodall House as their destination for their outdoor "summer evening" ceremony.

The simplistic but ethereal charm was captured with gardenias, magnolias and blueberry accents desgined by Kelly Odom Florist. The colors included navy blue, white and dark green.

Huge kudos to Stacy Borelli of Swank Photo Studio for these breathtaking photos!

Intern Experience at Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events

2011-07-06T13:51:00.001-04:00

Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events has always supported the future of our industry by offering internships to college students. We have worked with students from North Carolina State University, the University of Chapel Hill, Liberty University, just to name a few. This summer we had the pleasure of working with Laura Leigh Bain from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Laura has been a wonderful addition to our staff, eager to learn and committed to excellence! We asked Laura so share about her experience at Your Special Day!

I officially started my internship with Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events on May 18th. I had met with Shawn in March for an interview and was estastic when she offered me the opportunity to work with her and her consultants for the summer.

I started my first day with a few hours in the office working with Shawn, learning how to do RSVP tracking. After that we headed to The Grand Marquise Ballroom in Garner where the real fun started. I was blown away my very first day. I met several vendors, helped set up tables and linens, and met the bride and her mother. That weekend I was thrown right into a wedding and I was thrilled that my first week on the job I was going to able to see a wedding take place and be a part of setting up for it. I couldn't believe how much I was learning right away. I saw what it takes to put a wedding together the last few days beforehand and then everything that goes into it the day of.

There are so many things you never think of when someone says wedding you think the white dress, beautiful flowers, amazing food, a gorgeous tasty cake, and dancing but you don't think about how the tables need to be set up, which way the linens need to face, how the schedule needs to go so that the wedding will flow and everyone will enjoy themselves to the fullest, or what if something goes wrong..who's going to fix it? And the answer to that is simple, the wedding coordinator. Shawn has taught me all of these things and that when a problem occurs she has the answer! I've learned what all goes into pulling off a fabulous wedding without a single hitch and if there is one don't stress too much it can be fixed in a short time and to just get people dancing!

I knew I would enjoy this internship and that I would definitely learn from it but I feel that it has far exceeded my expectations. I have formed friendships with Shawn and the other wedding planners and have truly enjoyed being a part of the planning process and a part of people's weddings. It was the most amazing feeling to see a bride and groom really enjoy their night and knowing you had a little to do with it. Before this internship wedding planning was something I wanted to do but now it's become a passion and I cannot wait to start my career in the industry!

I owe tons of thanks to Shawn and her wedding planners, the couples who have allowed me to help and be a part of their wedding days, and the vendors who have taken their time to talk to me about their companies and passions. This internship has been a great experience and one I will always remember!

Happy Anniversary, Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events

2011-07-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

Five years ago today, I took a leap of faith and never looked back. After 6 years as a wedding planner/consultant with another company, I opened the doors to Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events. This major life changing decision continues to be a complete blessing from God.

I offer my total appreciation and gratitude to Gail Stephenson, for providing a wonderful foundation for me to build upon.

To our amazing network of truly the “best of the best” vendors in the triangle and beyond, thank you for your continued support.

To our staff, Michelle, Emily, LeeAnn, Amanda and Angela, the company’s success would not exist without you!

To my family, thank you for believing in me, putting up with the crazy schedule, my obsession of the business and providing me with the motivation to keep going.

Most importantly, to our clients, past, present and future, YOU are why we do what we do. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of Your Special Day!

Happy Anniversary, Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events.

Brandon and Jennifer Smith

2011-06-27T18:02:00.000-04:00

Shady Wagon Farm offered a beautiful atmosphere for Jennifer and Brandon to share with their family and friends. As guests entered the ceremony they were given bright yellow parasols to shade themselves which added a little extra cheer to the already radiant ceremony. As the sun shined down on the two of them and their guests as they shared their love for one another and began their new life together as husband and wife.

After the exchanging of vows the guests made their way to a cocktail hour in the barn while Jennifer and Brandon’s love was captured through photography by Images by Jess. They guests were allowed to sneak a peek at the Jennifer and Brandon's wedding cake during the cocktail hour while enjoying hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and conversation. Brandon and Jennifer then made their way to the beautifully decorated barn where they were introduced for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Dramatic centerpieces from Expressions of Love Florist and rentals from CE Rentals made the rustic barn very chic!

After the first dance was complete the guests were welcome to start their wonderful meals provided by Catering Works which at the end of the night included a fun grilled fruit and ice cream station for the guests to enjoy. The bride and groom and their guests then continued with the fun evening dancing the night away to Top Notch Entertainment. And finished the night off with an exist through the bright yellow parasols that were given to guests at the ceremony to shade themselves.

It was such an honor to be a part of Jennifer and Brandon's wedding since it was our second opportunity to work with this family and spend time with them. Shawn fell in love with Brandon and Jennifer when she originally met them at Jenn's sister's rehearsal dinner 4 years ago!

Joie and Cody...Check this out!

2011-06-26T23:07:00.013-04:00

What a fun couple in SO many ways! There will be many...and I mean many photos to share from this wedding I have no idea how we will decide which ones to post. This couple is a true example of "how we roll" at Your Special Day, Weddings and Special Events. Weddings are not about the current trends or a theme, it is about the couple. Joie and Cody so embraced the idea of making their wedding a reflection of them.

Joie and Cody thank you for allowing us to be a part of Your Special Day! Enjoy the video....
http://vimeo.com/25075614

Kun and Lan

2011-05-31T14:01:00.001-04:00

From looking at the pristine grounds at Barclay Villa on Sunday April 17th, one could not have guessed that tornadoes had ripped through our area just the day before. Every inch of the gardens and grounds were immaculate and the sun shone on Lan Li and Kuan Huang for the day.

Lan and Kun began their journey to this day seven years ago. They have seen each other through college, graduate school, new careers, and many MANY travels. As they entered this next phase of their lives, they called upon us only a few short months prior to their wedding. When we met in February, they had the venue and the date. Everything else was brought together in less than six weeks. We fused various Chinese traditions with the couple’s style and American influence.

From the ballroom entryway lined with their photographs, it was clear this day was meant to share their growing love through the years and to celebrate their promising future together. Considering photography was so important to the couple, they hired Walters and Walters to fulfill this large task. James Walters and his assistant were there for every moment. He was able to capture at least one moment with the bride and groom per guest! James is so skilled that his photography never disrupted or interfered with the great energy in the ballroom and on the dance floor thanks to Eighty-Seven Sounds and Entertainment. Randall mixed American top hits with Chinese pop and the guests couldn’t get enough! Rocky Top Hospitality added to the event by providing the bride and groom and their guests with a beautifully prepared meal. After a sparkler departure, the guests dissipated and allowed for Lan and Kuan to share intimate moments on the grounds. Lan wore a traditional Cheongsam for her nighttime photos with her new husband.

Ashley and Jordan

2011-04-06T17:58:00.000-04:00

What a beautiful start to our 2011 wedding season. Ashley and Jordan were married at The Grand Marquise Ballroom, surrounding by their friends and family. I can honestly say that I enjoy elements of every event we produce but some will stay with us forever…this is one of those events. Ashley, Jordan and their family were a true blessing to work with, beautiful inside and out!

Our wonderful venue, florals by Expressions of Love and linens from CE Rentals provided the perfect décor for the wedding and reception.

Rocky Top Hospitality started with a popcorn station and passed sliders reflecting the couples love for sporting events followed by several other stations in the ballroom. After dinner, the guests were tempted by cupcakes from Cinda’s Creative Cakes. Every morsel was wonderful! Simsound DJ and Lighting Services kept the dance floor alive while ShutterBooth NC entertained the guest when they needed a break.

My words do not adequately explain how precious this couple is…but Bridget, with Neil Boyd Photography captured the true essence of the day.

More special moments...

Allyson and Archie

2011-01-26T18:09:00.000-05:00

Allyson and Archie were married at Barclay Villa in October surrounded by their loving friends and family. Warren of Warren McCormack Photography captured not only the beauty of our couple but the emotions of the day. We love how Warren presented the sneak peek of photos for this wedding.

With Archie stationed in London and Allyson joining him before the wedding, our couple relied on us to bring their vision to life. Expressions of Love Florist, CE Rentals and Simpson Production served as our decor' team. Ron K. Smith kept the dance floor full throughout the night, while ShutterBooth provided fun for those needing to give their dancing shoes a break! Archie's highlight of the evening was the classic cake designed by Ambrosia's Cake Creations. I understand the top layer has already been consumed. He insisted Allyson bring it back to London after a visit to the States in November!

Allyson and her girls began the day with hair and make-up, on-site, with Margo Williams, Belloviso.

Take a minute to watch this video and enjoy Allyson and Archie's special day!

A Note of Thanks....

2010-11-19T10:27:00.000-05:00

We just received this note from one of our previous brides. This is why we do what we do and love every minute!

"Hey Shawn,

Hope you are doing well. Mom had said that she mentioned to you that I have taken some interest in planning and directing weddings here in Hickory. I had my second one this past weekend and I love it!!!! I thought of you all weekend. I have a total different perspective on what you did for my wedding. Thank you so much!! YOU were a blessing!!! When you are on the other side (not the Bride caught in the moment) you realize what all it takes to have a successful wedding day!!! It has been a year and a half now since mine, and way too late, but Thank You!! Can't wait to get another myself!!

Thanks,Ashley Reynolds"

Check us out!

2010-11-17T13:27:00.000-05:00

How exciting it is to be a contributor for one of our local publications. We hope you will take a moment to read our article in the December issue of Cary Magazine!

How to Host a Dinner Party

Contributed By Shawn Schindler, of Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events

Imagine the expressions on the faces of your friends and family as they enter your home and take in the surroundings that you have created especially for them. Your creation may be an elegant holiday dining affair or an eccentric coffeehouse-styled leisurely evening. You may be thinking, “I can’t pull something off like that!” With my tips, you will be able to create a memorable occasion.

Let’s start with eliminating the thought that entertaining in your home is going to require gross amounts of money, an abundance of decorations and countless hours. If you follow these helpful hints that I have gathered in my many years as an event planner, you will learn the ropes of home entertaining.

Be a Good Host

The first and foremost element to discuss is you, the host or hostess. You need to be able to enjoy your own event. You could be the executive producer of your production or the author of your own confusion. One key rule of thumb here is a stressed host or hostess will leave a lasting impression, and not the kind you are trying to make! Even a novice can be the executive by being organized, detailed and exact in executing the perfect production, no matter how small and intimate or grand and lavish.

Pick a Theme & Budget

To begin, you need to establish a theme, not in terms of a 40th birthday party or Super Bowl party, which are both fun atmospheres, but in establishing your style, color palette, food and drinks to serve and what budget you want to work with to complete your event. Everyone has a budget, regardless if it is $200 or $2,000. Remember, overspending will not impress your guests!

Set a Date & Invite

After you determine your theme, set a date in advance, allowing your invitations to arrive to your guests by mail … yes, the kind with a stamp! As is it convenient to send an Evite, an invitation received in the mail will set the personalized tone for your gathering and show that you have a sense of social etiquette that many have forgotten.

Decide Your Menu

The next and potentially most important element of your actual production is the food and drinks. This can be accomplished with your own talents or those of a professional chef, which is a huge trend right now. A personal and professional chef can simply deliver the food or prepare it on-site, serve it in your dishes and clean up while you enjoy your guests. If you have a few special dishes but need a more balanced menu, improvise and call a caterer for your needs or go to your local gourmet grocery store.

Choose Your Spirits

Now that you have your food taken care of, let’s think drinks. I highly recommend hiring a professional bartender if you are serving a variety of alcoholic beverages. Not only do professional bartenders serve your guests, but they have knowledge of a large array of beverage recipes. For the small investment of $25–$50 per hour, you are releasing yourself of some of the hosting responsibilities, allowing you to further enjoy your guests.

Set a Time Line

As a professional event planner, I cannot stress enough the importance of preparing a time line for the days leading up to your party as well as the day of. You need to make sure you schedule time for shopping, cleaning, food preparation, and don’t forget to allow a few minutes for relaxation prior to greeting your first guest. Remember what we discussed earlier: A stressed host or hostess will leave a lasting impression, and not the kind you are trying to make!

Conjure Up Your Decor

Theme, food, drinks, time lines — now the décor! This element is going to completely depend on your theme. Let your creativity kick in and showcase your style. Place your decorations as accents to your evening not to steal the show. Instead, let your moments with your guests create memories that make the show. If you need help with decor, there are plenty of professional decorators and florists who can help.

Go to Plan B

Lastly, if you still feel overwhelmed and you just want to test your hosting skills, consider having your event at a restaurant. There are many excellent places in our area that offer private dining facilities. You can add your personal touch with linens, florals and print stationery.

If you would love to create this special moment for your family and friends but don’t think you are up to the challenge, special event planners can design and execute your party on your behalf, and no one has to know. A planner can take you from start to finish or can even provide you with hourly consultations to get you moving in the right direction and build your confidence. Special event planners have the resources you need at their fingertips, which will save you time and money, bringing vendors that will reflect your particular style.

Shawn Schindler is owner of Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events in Raleigh. For more information, call (919) 662-7816 or visit www.makingyourdayspecial.com.

Carly, Travis and Shea

2010-09-03T10:52:00.000-04:00

Carly and Travis were married at the RTP Hilton on Saturday, August 28th. I had worked closely with Carly during the planning process but just met Travis the weekend of the wedding. Watching this couple together and with their daughter Shea totally warmed my heart.

From the moment of the "First Look" photo, until the end of the reception you could feel the love and committment they share.

JAM Photography did a wonderful job capturing the happiness of the day.

Kisses....Look Closely!!

I love this collage of photos from the day...

As always, it was a pleasure working with Sweet Memories for the cake, CE Rentals for the linens and Brides and Bouquets for the flowers. Thanks to our new DJ friend, Kevin with KMDJ Company, who provided the ceremony and reception music.

I can't resist sharing this photo....the heart of it all, Shea.

The Most Incredible Night

2010-08-13T13:09:00.001-04:00

Last Saturday night, I attended the 2009-2010 Esprit Awards Gala. The Esprit Awards program is an opportunity to celebrate excellence in our industry, honor individuals and teams who set the highest stands of performance and professionalism, and showcase the incredible experiences that are being created all over the world. Nomination for an ISES Award is one of the highest honors a special events professional can receive.

On August 7, Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events was an Esprit Award Nominee. Although we did not win, we are so extremely honored to have been nominated for this prestigious award. To see our name projected on the screens with the other nominees was completely overwhelming.

I was told I needed to prepare a speech, just in case. Although I did not get to share these words on the stage, I feel they still need to be heard.

"Ten years ago when I began my journey in this crazy event industry, I never aspired to own my own company. Four years ago, I started Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events, yet never dreamed I would stand in front of our industries leading professionals accepting this award.

I want to recognize a few who have played a key role in our company’s success.

David Casteel and Bill Allen, Mitchell’s Catering, thank you for your unwavering support, guidance and encouragement.

Lyn Graves, Fresh Affairs, for encouraging me to get involved in ISES and for his extraordinary floral design talents on Ethereal Elegance.

Thank you to the 12 vendors, 10 of which were ISES members, who helped make the vision come alive and Christobal Perez, Azul Photography, for visually documenting Sandra and Luciano’s wedding.

To my family, our staff and clients…there are not words to tell you how much I appreciate your love and support.

One last person…Tracy Adams, Adams and Events, thank you for attending the Gala and for always being willing to “play in the sand box with me”.

Thank you ISES for giving us a platform to showcase our passion."

As I stated earlier, the program said, “Nomination for an ISES Award is one of the highest honors a special events professional can receive”. I agree, it is a high honor and I would love to have the award on my desk, but my association and relationships with those mentioned above far exceeds any award!

Weddings, Parties and Celebrations...Don't just happen!

2010-06-09T15:42:00.019-04:00

Weddings, Parties and Celebrations…don’t just happen! A lot goes on behind the scenes. Enjoy a few photos of Shawn and Emily in action at Kristin and Todd's wedding in Statesville, North Carolina. We had the pleasure of working with Brian Mullins Photography for this wedding. Your Special Day has always admired Brian's work but this was our first time actually working together. I promise it will not be the last!

Emily is taking the bride's ring to the maid of honor. Although it is a huge responsibility for our company to accept the rings from our couples, we like the comfort of knowing the rings actually arrive at the ceremony site and make it down the aisle.

Kristin's dad wanted her to wear her baby ring, bought on the day she was born, on her wedding day. What an honor to share such a special memory with our bride.

Pinning flowers on our groom, Todd, and the rest of the guys in the wedding party.

I love this photo...children attendants can add so much to the overall feel of the ceremony. After this little guy's dad went down the aisle, he decided he wanted to go with dad...not wait for his turn. We always tell our couples we are experienced with children and if there are issues prior to sending them down the aisle, we will take care of them. After trying to get this little one to wait his turn and sending the wedding party down the aisle at the same time, I can honestly say I am out of practice with 18 month old "wiggle worms" and very thankful for my assistant!

What a unique signature board....you actually etch the signatures in the matting with a special pen. We take these items from our clients weeks prior to the event so they don't have to worry about them.

Cutting the cake...this is not normally the responsibility of the our staff. However, we always do whatever it takes to make the event a wonderful experience for all. Kristin had asked her aunts to cut the cake and they were nervous about not knowing the proper way to cut a wedding cake so that you get the number of serving needed. So, give us some gloves and we will take care of it!

We are constantly learning and sharping our skills. Thanks to Mrs. Veda, one of our favorite alterations specialist, for sharing this interesting technique for lifting the hem of the gown when the bride changes into flats!

I have said it before...we love what we do and have fun doing it. Thanks to Brian Mullins and Ginger for such great photos and helping us make Kristin and Todd's wedding....Special!

Met Emily Stepp, Consultant for Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events

2010-05-21T09:41:00.002-04:00

This blog post is long overdue...I want to introduce you to a fabulous planner, Emily Stepp. We are so fortunate to have Emily working with the Your Special Day clients. Emily has been a professional planner for over 5 years, more years of experience than most planners in the Raleigh wedding community. Having her experience and expertise serving our clients allows us to connect with a diverse range of couples as well as the luxury of knowing Your Special Day has the trained staff to execute the most complicated event with ease!

"I unofficially began my career in the wedding industry while in college. I worked for Savvi Formalwear and found a passion for helping the couples that came in plan the perfect look for their wedding party. After realizing my enthusiasm and talent for the event planning circuit, I joined an event planning business where I learned the tools of the trade from Shawn. I appreciate that a wedding day is the most important day of a couple’s life and I am honored to be an integral part of bringing their dreams to life. It is a very hectic and fast paced industry but that is what keeps my work exciting! No two couples are alike and they constantly keep me on my toes."

Newbie "Wedding Planners"

2010-03-29T16:37:00.099-04:00

I recently read an article in Special Events Magazine and felt it was worthy to share on our blog. Our consultants are constantly learning of the "newbies" in our market. Any one with the finances to participate in a wedding show, purchase advertising or build a website are calling themselves a "professional planner." Many boast of years of experience, yet the seasoned professionals have never heard of them.

We encourage our clients to check vendor and client references on the wedding vendors you are considering hiring, search the Internet but dig for the true facts. Find out if the planner you are considering hiring is in fact a professional or assisted one of her sorority sisters with their wedding or just planned their own wedding, enjoyed it then decide to become a "wedding planner". Both of these things are honorable, but do not make for a professional planner.

Interview your planner. Some questions to ask:

How many weddings have you done?
How extensive is your vendor base? How do you develop your vendor base?
Is this a full-time career or something you do on the side?
Tell me about your first wedding?
Tell me about your most challenging wedding?
Tell me about the weddings represented on your website/Facebook/ blog?

Additionally, if you are comparing several planners and one is providing you with a proposal that is much lower than the others, this is a red flag. Not only do you want a qualified professional to execute your plans, but you want some one that demonstrates knowledge of his or her industry.

Enjoy the insert from the article...let us know what you think!!

Newbie "Wedding Planners" Plague the Professionals
by Lisa Hurley

Along with price-shopping brides who haggle over every penny in the wedding budget, veteran wedding professionals face another headache these days: the newbie wedding planner. Often armed with little experience—other than their own wedding—the newbies drive down fees and taint the value of experienced wedding pros, many in the business say.

Newbies are not a recent phenomenon, explains Joyce Scardina Becker, president of San Francisco-based Events of Distinction and founding president of the Wedding Industry Professionals Association. "However, they do come in waves," she says, "and right now it feels like a tidal wave!"

The San Francisco Bay area sees "at least one newbie a week," says Jenne Hohn, founder of Napa, Calif.-based Jenne Hohn Events. Although the recession has pushed the newly jobless to try to break into weddings ("I've heard of corporate planners who said they would never touch weddings now seeking advice on how to plan them," Hohn says), she thinks the problem started while the economy was still healthy. Many planners and vendors "saw that the wedding planners were doing well and decided to add planning to their repertoire a way to get a piece of the pie."

DAY-OF DILEMMA
One of the most galling trends, Scardina Becker says, is the low-cost, "day of" wedding coordination service many newbies offer.

"I'm not sure how the term 'day of' coordination originated, but it is a term that needs to be eradicated from the vocabulary of the wedding industry," she says. "No wedding planner of sound mind, experience and education would simply show up on the day of a wedding, wave their arms in the air like a symphony conductor and expect everything to flow flawlessly." Instead, she says, a professional wedding planner would spend from 30 to 45 hours a month out from the wedding date, making sure all plans are in place.

To read more please visit this link: http://specialevents.com/weddings/newbie-wedding-planners-plague-the-professionals/index.html

Join TCWE and ISES for exclusive Sasha Souza luncheon

2010-03-29T13:41:00.000-04:00

Raleigh, N.C. – The Triangle Consultants for Weddings and Events (TCWE) together with the Greater Triangle North Carolina Chapter of ISES (International Special Events Society) will convene for an exclusive book signing, intimate lunch and conversation with national wedding designer Sasha Souza at 11:30 a.m. April 27 at 18 Seaboard of Raleigh.

Seating for the event is limited and open to the first 18 respondents. Attendees, including top Triangle event planners, will be able to engage in an intimate, roundtable discussion with Souza as well as take home a copy of Souza’s “Magnificent Wedding Designs” book.

Contact Shawn Schindler, TCWE president, via shawn@makingyourdayspecial.com for more information on the luncheon.

Souza is one of only a handful of wedding designers who have been named a Master Bridal Consultant, the highest designation given by the Association of Bridal Consultants. Souza is the recipient of numerous awards including the Special Events Magazine Gala Award winner for “Best Dining Tabletop Design”, Event Solutions Magazine “Designer of the Year” and three ISES Westie Awards.

Later that evening, Souza will speak at the ISES meeting, making her available to those who could not attend the exclusive luncheon. For further information or to register for the ISES meeting, please visit www.regonline.com/isesgtemergingtrends

About TCWE
TCWE was introduced to the Triangle area in 2005, by a group of wedding consultants and event planners. They shared a vision to provide the social and corporate communities with an Association of special event professionals, trained and disciplined, to safeguard the hospitality industry’s high standard of excellence. TCWE members are required to have a minimum of three years wedding and event planning experience. Members must provide references from a facility/site, vendor/purveyor and client, each from a separate event that was planned and coordinated. For more information on TCWE please contact TCWE president Shawn Schindler of Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events, shawn@makingyourdayspecial.com.

Image Source: www.sashasouzaevents.com

Meet Allyson and Archie

2010-03-08T13:18:00.001-05:00

I initially met with Allyson and Archie back in August 2009.

Allyson had booked several meetings with wedding planners to narrow the list down to one; however, after our meeting, Allyson jokingly - but seriously said, "Do I really have to meet with other planners?"

The connection was instaneous, allowing us to accomplish so much in the amount of time we had before Allyson joined Archie in January where he is currently a dentist in the Air Force stationed in England.

Because of our connection and our ability to see eye-to-eye, almost all details of the planning process for Allyson and Archie's October 2nd wedding at Barclay Villa are complete!

Warren McCormack's engagment session photographs, shot in Wilmington, truly captured Allyson and Archie's essence.

Your Special Day Weddings and Special Events, and the Greater Triangle ISES Chapter is "going green"

2010-03-03T12:33:00.000-05:00

The "Popcork" Experience Gone 'Green'

Exploring 'Green' Food and Wine Pairing

"Going Green" is not a trend - it is a lifestyle.

Industry veteran and noted food and wine educator, Sharon Charny, will bring her unique food and wine pairing experience in this highly entertaining and interactive seminar.

Using a neutral flavored medium - popcorn - Charny will lead attendees through a tasting of four different wines, featuring specific grape varietals, along with different flavors of popcorn - lemon, salt, sugar and spice. As each wine is tasted with each flavor, participants will discuss what the flavor represents in a menu or recipe, while discovering which flavors enhance the wines (or not)!

This seminar will open up the palate to ways that certain food flavors can change the way the wine and food taste together - all with an eye toward meeting increasing consumer demand for organic options. Also learn and discuss common misperceptions about "organic" or "green" wines and what actually constitutes a "certified organic wine."

We invite you to join us at one of Raleigh's newest venues "7" on March 16, 2010 at 5:30pm.

For information visit http://www.ises-gt.org/

Sweet and Intimate: Caroline and Tim

2010-02-19T14:42:00.006-05:00

A Wedding I will never forget...

Kristen Trexler, Consultant

Caroline met with us in a few months prior to her wedding. I could tell she was a little overwhelmed with all the planning that goes into a wedding and needed some help. This was my first wedding that I would be executing, so I was excited/nervous/thankful all at the same time. It wasn’t until the two weeks before, during my final consultation with Caroline and Tim, that I was surely confident in my abilities to take on this wedding. During our 3-hour final consultation, I helped the couple work out a few tweaks, fixed a few timing issues, and researched the plan she had in her mind for that weekend with no hesitation at all. Walking into that consultation I could see the worry and stress on her face, but walking out the door I saw a soon to be bride that was completely relaxed, excited, and at ease with her wedding.

The beautiful fall wedding was absolutely perfect. After parking their cars at the 2nd Empire (reception site), the guest were taken through downtown by the Raleigh Trolley to St. Mark’s Chapel at Mordecai Historic Park. After the intimate ceremony was over, the guest boarded the Trolley again and headed back to the reception site. We would like to thank Reverend Cheryl Quaid, NC Strings, Emory Lane Photography, Flowers on Broad Street, Sweet Julia’s Bakery, and White Horse for making this a truly special time for the amazing couple.

I would like to thank St. Marks Chapel at Mordecai Park, Reverend Cheryl Quaid, NC Strings, 2nd Empire, Emory Lane Photography, Sweet Julia's Bakery, and Raleigh Parks and Recreation Trolley for making this such a special day for Caroline and Tim. They were truely blessed with their dream wedding!

Towards the end of the night Tim pulled me aside

and gave me something. I will always cherish…. a red Swiss Army Knife. He handed it to me and said “you are definitely the swiss army of all weddings”.

Looking Back...

2010-01-26T13:42:00.002-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to go back through tons of photos from previous weddings. The memories were wonderful, bringing smiles and a few tears. So, I thought I would share.

Megan and Brandon came to Your Special Day two years after we coordinated Megan's brother's wedding. Words can not express how honored we feel to work with families over and over again.

I love fall weddings especially when you work with the natural colors of the season. FreshAffairs did an amazing job with the flowers for this event.

Ms. Mia was the most precious flower girl ever! This little angel walked the aisle like it was her wedding.

Can you tell where our couple when to school? Megan was a cheerleader at NCSU...go PACK!! Brandon graduated from UNC. I wonder what game day is like at their house?

Thanks for Walters and Walters for the beautiful photographs taken at Prestonwood Country Club!

Announcing Exciting News!!

2010-01-19T22:10:00.001-05:00

Your Special Day just learned that we have been chosen to receive the Bride's Choice Awards 2010 from the WeddingWire. This award recognizes the top 5 percent of local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service and professionalism.

The Bride's Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through extensive surveys, which means our past clients have spoken on our behalf and selected us to receive this honor.

This is the second award Your Special Day has received in recent months. It is completely overwhelming to us that our clients, both brides and vendors, take the time to nominate us.

Our sincere thanks to all who allow us to do what we love!!

The Wedding Show....January 2010

2010-01-04T20:25:00.008-05:00

The Wedding Show, produced by Forever Bridal Productions, was two days of wedding planner heaven! We love meeting new couples and sharing in the excitement of their engagement and wedding plans.

When designing our booth this year, we wanted to do something different, something that made people stop and notice.

The design concept "Relax and Enjoy the Ride" came to me several months ago after talking with a friend that is a Harley Davidson lover. You can enjoy the entire process of planning your wedding and stay focused on the "destination"...your marriage. Even though I personally do not own a Harley, I understand the experience of the ride is part of the joy of owning a Harley.

Honestly, I was not sure if the idea would go over well but one day while talking with a vendor I learned that one of our October 2010 brides (love you Allyson) had said that she was hesitating on purchasing "the dress" because she thought finding it so quickly was too easy. That is when I knew the "concept" would work! When you work with Your Special Day, we want your decisions to be easy and want you to enjoy the experience of planning your wedding!

So today we have booked new weddings and scheduled consultations with new prospects. What a wonderful start to 2010!

Here are a few photos from our booth thanks to the fabulous Christobal Perez with Azul Photography.

Thank you to Chris for the use of his bike and my boys for the load-in assistance.

A huge thanks to all that made the show a success for Your Special Day, Swank Photo Studio, CE Rentals, Classic Party Rentals, Invitation-Creations, Sasser Studios, Expressions of Love Florist and Jeff Simpson for our lighting.

We also need to thank our "honorary" consultant....Sandra. Sandra worked the booth with us on Saturday. You can not buy that kind of advertisement! Sandra is one of our favorite brides from 2009...more importantly, she is a friend!

2010 Best of Weddings Award Winner

2009-12-28T14:59:00.004-05:00

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

2009-11-12T11:23:00.002-05:00

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!

2009-10-08T09:02:00.005-04:00

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!

2009-08-21T09:21:00.006-04:00

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...

2009-07-17T11:52:00.013-04:00

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...

2009-06-29T12:05:00.004-04:00

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

2009-06-26T12:40:00.007-04:00

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

2009-06-18T10:45:00.008-04:00

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...

2009-06-03T11:55:00.007-04:00

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

2009-05-26T10:22:00.011-04:00

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

2009-05-19T10:49:00.005-04:00

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

2009-05-13T21:15:00.011-04:00

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.

Spectacular & Elegant Wedding this past weekend - Sandra and Luciano

2009-05-13T19:34:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to give you all a sneak preview of the spectacular and elegant wedding we were so honored to be apart of this past weekend. Sandra and Luciano have been a blessing to work with these past months and we are absolutely thrilled how everything turned out. Your Special Day was very fortunate to work with such a talented group of vendors. We would like to thank Prestonwood Country Club, Total Production Services, Capital Style, Simpsound Productions, Sweet Memories Bakery, Fresh Affairs, CE Rentals, Azul Photography, and Band for helping us make this day truly special for this blissful couple. Azul Photography was so graciously kind to give us a few amazing photographs, so we can give everyone a quick look at their magnificent wedding. We will share more with you in the next couple of weeks.

New Intern - Kristen Trexler

2009-05-06T12:35:00.000-04:00

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

2009-04-22T14:38:00.000-04:00

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

2009-03-03T17:55:00.000-05:00

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

2009-03-03T17:35:00.000-05:00

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

2009-02-12T22:00:00.000-05:00

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...

2009-01-26T21:40:00.000-05:00

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!

2009-01-25T17:47:00.001-05:00

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

2009-01-19T21:19:00.000-05:00

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.

2009-01-19T20:44:00.000-05:00

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!