Vendor Spotlight Series-Rachael Grammer of Two Hearts Wedding and Events

We are proud to feature Rachael Grammer of Two Hearts Wedding and Events in our Vendor Spotlight Series.  She is the owner and planner for Two Hearts and is a pleasure to work with on weddings and special events.

We have had the pleasure of working with Rachael on The Brides Against Breast Cancer event the past two years.  We share the passion for helping brides find their perfect dress while helping a cause that is important to both of us.  www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org

In an effort to showcase each vendor, we sent them a questionnaire with 5 questions that should give us insight into their business, their values, and their personalities.  We hope you enjoy.

1. How did you get started in the wedding industry?

"I started event planning many years back(not sharing that date...ahem) with corporate and charitable functions.  While I enjoyed the planning process for these events, I found them to be a little too repetitive for my tastes.  I love planning weddings for the simple reason of while no matter what style or where they take place, all have consistent "wedding" elements but are still very different.  This is due to personal dynamics mostly.  Each couple, their entourage(wedding party, family and guests), and their expectations are very unique from wedding to wedding and I love that!"

2. What is your favorite thing about working in the wedding industry?

"For me, I’d have to say the emotions that I get to witness on wedding day. I never tire of all the daddies seeing their little girls in their wedding gowns for the first time, the couple’s first look with each other, the groom’s chin trembling as he sees his bride coming down the aisle, and the elated looks on the couple’s and their parents faces throughout the reception as they realize all the hard work and time we put into creating a memorable event has been so worth it all with the fantastic time they and their guests are having. These emotions for all of my events are permanently tattoo’d on my brain and I love remembering them all!"

3. What sets you apart from others in your field?

There are basics any “good” planner should be bring to the table... good common sense, ability to handle any situation calmly, a good/friendly disposition, great organizational skills, etc. I believe I possess all of these but I consider myself skilled during client planning sessions at bringing out those unique and very important elements to that couple and making sure said elements are consistently infused throughout their day. I’d also like to say that while the reception (celebration) is important to put a lot of work and ideas into, the ceremony is a huge focus for me. I want there to be emotion and moments that the couple and their guests connect with. Even the simplest and quick 15 minute ceremony can have elements included that allow guests to really connect and be present... not just follow along with a program. At the end of the night, I want to hear guests commenting about how it was no ordinary wedding and just how reflective the event was of that bride and groom. For me, that’s when I say... “Nailed it!”  

As a sidenote, we believe that Rachael has one of the best vendor websites around.  It is fun to navigate while giving you a glimpse into her personality and style.  She is a blast to work with and we recommend you taking a few moments to enjoy her page when you're done here. www.2heartsweddings.net

4. Best piece of advise you can provide future brides?

Narrowing down my best advise to just one suggestion is difficult for me, so here’s my top six tips. Sorry... can’t help it... and your welcome! ;)

Just Be Engaged... cease the wedding planning from time to time and remind your fiancé of the girl he proposed to. Make time to connect with conversation outside of the wedding... hopes, dreams, your first home, the color of your master bedroom, a puppy you’d like to have, the life you want to build together.

Prioritize... know what is most important to you both about your day and remind yourself and your vendors of that frequently. Be flexible on the details that don’t matter as much.

Don’t Compare... your wedding plans to the wedding you just attended. You’ll veer off the course you set for your own dream wedding and ultimately end up being disappointed that you did.

Day of Fairy God Mother... hire one!

Expect the Unexpected... don’t get caught up in”perfection”. No wedding day is perfect and sometimes those unexpected moments turn out to be the most treasured ones of all. How you embrace them makes all the difference.

Accept that you cannot please everyone... you cannot make everyone happy and trying to accommodate others will just only make your entire planning process daunting wearing you out way before the big day even arrives. Do the best you can and then don’t worry about the rest. It will all work itself out.

5. What are your hobbies when you are not working?

Well, this is a difficult one to answer... I’m ALWAYS working! But when I do find myself with down time, I’d have to say reading, spa treatments, movies, traveling to see my family mostly (I’m a new aunt and I’m over the moon about it), and hanging out with my friends.

If you are in need of a planner who knows how to understand your vision and see it through to the end, then we would recommend reaching out to our friend, Rachael.

For more information about Two Hearts Weddings and Events, find them on all of their social media platforms.

Website: http://www.2heartsweddings.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Two.Hearts.Weddings

Twitter: https://twitter.com/2heartsweddings

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/2heartswed

Instagram: http://instagram.com/rachaelgrammer

We hope you enjoyed this look into one of the many talented vendors we get to work with on a weekly basis.  For additional information on our services, please visit our website: https://www.cecedesignsllc.com 

Vendor Spotlight Series-John and Angela Deaver of Main Street Productions

We are proud to feature Main Street Productions this week in our continuing Vendor Spotlight Series.  John and Angela Deaver and their entire team work to create films that will be watched over and over again. 

 

 

 

 

Main Street Productions celebrates 12 years of producing films with integrity, ensuring your satisfaction with their final product. The creative techniques used by the Main Street team during both the shooting and editing phases coupled with the industry's latest trends and equipment will make your wedding film the essential keepsake. There is simply nothing like it.

 

In an effort to showcase each vendor, we sent them a questionnaire with 5 questions that should give us insight into their business, their values, and their personalities.  We hope you enjoy.





1. How did you get started in the wedding industry?

We joke that my degree is in VCR programming. But in reality, I(John) studied journalism broadcasting in college.  While I was teaching broadcasting at Spain Park High School, my cousin got married and Angela and I filmed it for her. I remember vividly having a conversation afterwards discussing how we could make a business happen.  That was 12 years ago! We have had wonderful success and are extremely grateful.

 

2. What is your favorite thing about working in the wedding industry?

We just got back from Las Vegas for Wedding MBA. There are so many wonderful professionals in our industry that it really makes the day more fun! We, here in Birmingham, are so lucky that we have such a great community of professionals that we can support, network with, and refer business to each other.  It's like a family!

 

3. What sets you apart from others in your field?

Not only are we lucky to have such a great community of wedding professionals in Birmingham, but the videography community is pretty tight-knit as well. We try to get together often to discuss wedding trends or just stories "from the field."  Everyone is just a little different from each other so we are able to give brides several wonderful choices when it comes to picking their videographer.

 

 

 

 

4. Best piece of advice you can provide future brides?

It is well documented that not hiring a professional videographer for their wedding day is the biggest regret that they have after the wedding is over.  I believe it is 97% of brides that don't have a video, regret it.  So of course I have to say hire the best that your money can buy.  Just do it!  We have countless emails from our families that echo this sentiment.  Find someone whose style you love, whose personality is compatible with yours and who really takes the time to learn what you want in a wedding film.

 

 

5. What are your hobbies when you are not working?

I like to joke that I am always working, but we are trying to do better about taking time off and enjoying life.  We heard once a videographers' conference: don't spend your entire life documenting someone else's life that you don't have time to live your own.

I do enjoy being an amateur photographer, and of course spending time with my family.  And if you know me at all, you know that Angela completely answered these questions so that it would get done!

 

For more information about John, Angela, and their entire team, please visit www.mainstreetav.com. The products that they produce are second to none, and will be a prized possession for years to come.  We appreciate them participating in our series, and we look forward to working alongside them again in the very near future.

 

Christy "CeCe" Todd

Vendor Spotlight Series-Handley McCrory of Windwood Weddings

Windwood Equestrian Farm is one of CeCe Designs favorite Birmingham wedding venues.   The description on their website describes their venue perfectly: "Windwood offers a unique farm setting with an old world inspired atmosphere perfect for your wedding. It is reminiscent of an old English Estate with the barn nestled in the valley. Whether you want photographs walking down the trails or by the horses there are limitless beautiful settings for your day. Windwood has more than enough space to host both your ceremony and reception or just one or the other. The Estate has three barns, many meadows and a beautiful courtyard. Windwood can accommodate any size occasion large or small and offers over 200 acres as the setting for your wedding day or occasion."

 

    Photo Credit: Arden Photography

One of our main reasons for loving Windwood so much is their Senior Event Coordinator, Handley McCrory.  We are so thrilled to feature her on this week's Vendor Spotlight Series Blog.

In an effort to showcase each vendor, we sent a questionnaire with 5 questions that should give us insight into their business, their values, and their personalities. We hope you enjoy!!

1. How did you get started in the wedding industry?

"I started working with Sybil Sylvester at Wildflower Designs and that's how I met Arden and William(Upton). They then hired me to be the Senior Event Coordinator at Windwood Equestrian. I've been at Windwood since the very beginning, so it has been exciting to watch the business grow and to be a part of it."

2. What is your favorite thing about working in the wedding industry?

"My favorite thing about working in the wedding industry would have to be working with other wedding professionals. Being surrounded by creative people who are always looking for a new and innovative way to do something is just inspiring." 

   Photo Credit: Arden Photography

The photos above are Jaime and Andrew Manning's wedding. We had so much fun collaborating with Handley to bring this beautiful couple's dream to life. 

3. What sets you apart from others in your field? 

"If I had to say, I would say that what sets me apart from others in my field is the ability to walk in any place and always be able to make a connection with someone. If definitely makes the world a little smaller. When brides come to Windwood to meet with me and they are newly engaged, a little nervous to embark on this planning adventure....it really helps to be able to knock down some barriers and make connections with them. By the end of the meeting, we are already fast friends."

4. Best piece of advice you can provide future brides?

"The best piece of advice I could give to brides would be to hire a planner that will dot your "I's" and cross your "T's" because no matter how organized you may be now....6 months down the road you're going to be too excited for your wedding to want to worry about the little things."

5. What are your hobbies when you are not working?

"Hobbies when I am not working.....hmm I have several. BUT, I would say that my favorite thing to do is get with my friends and cook dinner. We're all super busy, so it's fun to just get in the kitchen and catch up. Also, since I work every weekend....lazy week nights are about the only time I get to see anyone haha!!"

So, whether you are looking for the picture percent backdrop for your ceremony and/or reception, or you have always dreamed of being married outside in the calm of nature, then we would recommend calling Handley to discuss all of the amenities that Windwood has to offer. 

For additional pictures, information, and a calendar of open dates, please visit www.windwoodweddings.com or http://www.facebook.com/windwoodweddings

We look forward to working with many more couples at this beautiful venue with a tremendous staff. 

John+Hannah 5.24.14

We were so blessed to be a part of this wonderful couples' special day.  From the moment we arrived until the moment we took down the reception decor', it was obvious the love that is shared between these two.

Hannah made such a beautiful bride.  She glowed as she saw her bouquet for the first time, and we were so proud to make her dreams come true.

 

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens(http://www.bbgardens.org) provided a gorgeous venue for the ceremony in the Gardens and the reception in the Garden Cafe'.  We hope you enjoy the rest of the images that we just cannot get enough of!!