A Huge Thank You!

Date: 2012.01.25 | Category: Simply & Forever News | Response: 0

This post would NOT be possible without the absolutely AMAZING couples that I had the honor of working with in 2011.  Because of them, Simply & Forever was chosen as a The Knot Best of Weddings 2012 Pick!!  We’ve been so excited to share this with everyone, mostly since it was made possible because of our couples!

What I love best about this business is that every single wedding is unique to the bride and groom.  Every member of this team LOVES the details, and we always love when the bride loves them just as much as we do.  There are so many ways to find inspiration these days when you are planning your wedding, and we love being there to help you with your vision and to make sure everything ties together.

The best part of the wedding day is opening those ceremony doors and sending a bride and her father down the aisle to meet her groom.  I am grateful for all of my clients that allow us to be a part of their wedding day, and to be a witness to the ceremony that will bind the couple together.  The ceremony is by far the most important part of the day, as that is what binds you two together for many days after your wedding day celebration.

My second favorite part of the wedding day is when my clients see the reveal of the reception site.  I wish I could catch all of their reactions on camera when they first enter that room!  Each memory of the couple’s walking into the room is etched in my mind because it is the culmination of months and months of work between us and the clients, and there is always HUGE excitement brewing in the air when they see the room, because they know a great celebration with their friends and family is just beginning!

To celebrate this amazing award, I wanted to pull a few photos of my 2011 couples until I have some time to share all of our 2011 recaps!

Row 1 and 2:  Joanna Kleine  Photography             Row 3 Left: Megan Thiele Photography         Row 3 Right: Todd Studios Photography

Thank you again to all of our AMAZING clients!  Because of you, not only do we have The Knot news to share with you, but we have also received word from the St. Louis Wedding Awards as well!  We have been nominated for the 2011 St. Louis Wedding Awards, along with many other talented vendors in the St. Louis area!!   2012 is off to a rocking start and we can’t wait to see what this year brings for our team!!

Katie

2012 – A year to remember!

Date: 2012.01.12 | Category: Simply & Forever News | Response: 1

2012 is going to be a year to remember!  We still have some quick recaps to share with you all on the blog and our website to finish out 2011, but we are truly marching forward into 2012!  Before we dive too much into the inspiration and photos coming your way, I wanted to stop and share my 2012 resolutions with you!

I will blog twice a week (at least!)  

We will share DIY posts every other month to start with – including projects for the home, your wedding, and more! 

We will have a spanking new blog to show you in 2012!  (working with the sweet Cathy to make the blog more user-friendly and gorg!)

We will have lots of pretty photos, new press, and of course some new branding elements to share with you soon on the website! 

Sharing our journey with our readers, both personally and with  Simply & Forever

Taking Behind the Scenes photos to share with you!  We love our team and want you to meet them as well! 

Inspiration!  We love to share color inspiration boards, great projects we’ve come across, and vendors with great products for your home and wedding day!

Finalizing my blog editorial calendar for 2012!  - hold me to that!  

I am so excited for each and every client that we have on the books this year!  It is a true blessing to be going into the year as we are, and it is a testament to the hard work that we have put into the business this past year.  Each and every wedding is so unique, and the designs have been so much fun to draw up for everyone!  If you are still looking for a Wedding Planner or Coordinator for your wedding, we would love to hear from you!

~Katie

Saying Goodbye to 2011

Date: 2011.12.31 | Category: Simply & Forever News | Response: 0

On the eve of another year approaching, I wanted to pause to reflect on what 2011 has meant to me.  It is very hard to sum up a year into a blog post, and I just wanted to highlight some of the things that made 2011 a year to remember.

It was the year that I decided to put everything I had into this business, to go full-time, and since doing so, I have never looked back on that decision.  This job fills my soul every single day, and I am so lucky to have a husband, family and a team who support me on this journey as the business grows.

It was the year for my husband and I to build more memories together as we entered our second year of marriage in November.

It was the year for me to focus on planning and designing some great weddings and events for my clients, and growing Simply & Forever way beyond my original 2011 goals.

It was a year of excitement – ESPECIALLY seeing our work in print and online!

It was a year of collaboration and education, two things that are very dear to my heart.

We had such an amazing group of brides and grooms this year, and I truly feel like each of them has such an amazing spot in my heart because of the friendships we have formed throughout their planning.   I love staying in touch with my brides after the weddings because to me, the wedding isn’t just about their wedding day and making sure it goes smoothly, it’s about the couple spending the rest of their life together.  That day is just the beginning of their journey together, and it warms my heart to still be a part of their lives.

I hope you all have a very safe and joyous New Year’s Eve!  Check back early next week for our 2012 resolutions!

xoxo,

Katie

Decorating Glass Jars

Date: 2011.10.10 | Category: Decor, DIY | Response: 15

I love DIY ideas that can be used as accent pieces both in your home as well as for your special day.  There are many different ways that you can decorate old jars, but my favorites are glass etching, and spray paint.   Would love to hear what your favorites are as well!

Glass etching is fairly easy to do at home, and with already made letters bought at your local craft store, your etching can be super chic for both home and weddings.  The below is a great way to organize your pantry at home, and also could be a great way to label jars of crayons, markers, and stickers for your little ones.

Image By: Martha Stewart

I also really love the idea of using these for your wedding.  The below shows a star etched onto glass, but you could easily attach a number sticker onto the jar, and paint the etching cream around that number to create a fun candle table number for your outside wedding.

As found on: Nature Moms

Look around your house and I’m sure you can find tons of old bottles that once used, would be PERFECT for this project!  These glass bottles were everyday items that you use, that were spray painted completely white, and then filled with billy balls to make an instant centerpiece that everyone will talk about!  This would be perfect for rectangle shaped tables.

As found on: Kimberly Schlegel Whitman’s Blog

The last idea is taking twine (or yarn) and wrapping it around glass votive holders from your local home decor store.  Once you have attached the twine or yarn in place, use a white spray paint (or even a more opaque looking one), and spray away.  It creates a neat effect on the votive holders that is perfect for a wedding or your home decor!

As found on: Pinterest

Happy Crafting!!

{real rehearsal} Erin + Chris

Date: 2011.09.23 | Category: Inspiration, Simply & Forever News | Response: 12

I absolutely loved working with my September 3rd couple Erin & Chris who got married at Graham Chapel and the St. Louis Club.  I was honored to help them plan a fabulous rehearsal dinner at Via Vino in Frontenac for their families and friends.  We created a wine pairing menu with Michael Del Pietro and Gus leading up to the event, and Michael and his staff definitely did not disappoint!

The menus and escort cards were created by M.Haley Design and the escort cards were backed in red and the menus in silver to continue their color palette for their wedding weekend.  Simply & Forever created three all rose centerpieces in low black rectangle vases, with glass candlesticks adorning the length of the table.  The long rectangle table was perfect for their family and friends and just watching the table, you just felt happy, because everyone was laughing, smiling, and enjoying the company around them.

Thank you so much Erin & Chris for having me be a part of this special weekend for you both!  Your love for each other is so apparent to everyone around you, and your love for your family and friends is truly amazing.  I know they all enjoyed spending the weekend with you two and you made every single event important for each of the guests as well as yourselves!