We've Moved...

Hello my blogging friends! Well... we have some news!!! Due to some unforeseen circumstances, we have had to make some changes! It came to our attention about a month ago that the name "Simply Social" has previously been trademarked by someone else in the Dallas area. The news came as quite a shock! After spending so much time in the BIG D, you would think I would have already heard this name, but no... We received notification that our only option was to re brand. WHAT? Re brand? But, Simply Social was our baby... It's where it all began...

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With an incredibly heavy heart, I went to discuss this news with those that mattered most to me. My parents, my fiance, my sister, my great friends... and, of course, my Grandmother! After all, she is what being an inspirational and visionary leader is all about. She is 86 years old, runs a multi-million dollar business AND still comes to work EVERY DAY! I mean, it doesn't get much more inspirational than that. So, we talked! And... in TRUE "grandmother" fashion, she said, "Oh, Sugar! What are you gonna do now sweetheart?" And, there... It all began again!

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So... It only seems appropriate that going forward, in honor of the three INCREDIBLE women (my Grandmother, my Mother and my soon to be Mother in Law) in my life that have taught me leadership, perseverance and passion, we will be moving forward as:

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"Oh, Sugar! Event Design + Paperie"

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And... we do so with a new drive, a new and truly inspired passion to be leaders and to be different and to truly go above and beyond to make each and every one of our clients sooooo incredibly happy! We are very excited about this change and look forward to the many many exciting journey's that are ahead of us! As Grandmother Walden always tells us..."Sugar, these things always happen for a reason! God has a plan for you and it's your job now to press on with a BIG SMILE and make the best of HE has blessed you with!" And... that is what we are going to do! And we hope you all will continue to join us on this journey! We have already created a NEW BLOG and will continue to post great ideas, great inspirations and great work. We are also currently in the process of building our NEW WEBSITE! So, please visit our new blog and share it with your friends... There is nothing but great things on the horizon for us... And, we are so excited for you all to join us. Here's to new things, new horizons and new possibilities! "Oh, Sugar! It's gonna be a great!!!"

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So, stop on in and visit us. We can't wait to hear from you and look forward to FABULOUS EVENTS and INCREDIBLE MEMORIES! Our NEW BLOG is:

http://www.ohsugarevents.blogspot.com/

The Perfect Pair - Couture Love Birds!!!

So... today I was on the hunt for the PERFECT cake topper! I have blogged about others but specifically today was looking for Love Birds... Couture Love Birds to be specific! And by some miracle, I came across Anne Wood. Ann lives in Brooklyn, New York and creates the sweetest little treasures I have seen in a long time! She works with mostly found, and salvaged materials, many of them vintage or antique garments. There is a kind of affection and tenderness in the re-use and re-purposing of things that were once personal and perhaps treasured possessions.

Much of her inspiration comes from these materials as well as from many of the ideas she has been infatuated with her whole life : smallness, intricacies, miniaturization, collections, repetition; lost or abandoned things discovered and rescued; the idea of haunted and enchanted places, things and creatures; the setting of a tiny stage.

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I have been looking for something in an "antique cake topper" for my own wedding and have been asked numerous times where to find them. The truth is, they are kind of hard to find. Let me clarify... GOOD ONES are hard to find! There are tons of them on ebay but the quality is less than par. The figures don't even look real in most cases. But, I will continue to look and pray that I come across a place to find them someday... But, in the meantime, I have found a solution that is sure to impress even the most imaginative bride!

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I wanted something DIFFERENT and I love that Ann uses re-purposed items and vintage fabrics to adorn the birds... They are just so dainty and pretty... Don't you think??? They encompass old Hollywood, antique, vintage, fashion forward and so many other looks...

I LOVE THEM!!!

This pair is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE! Their names are Anna and Lars and they truly are THE PERFECT PAIR!!!

This one is Sylvia the Ballerina. I personally think she would make a PRECIOUS bride too! She just needs a boy to go with her! I LOVE her crown!!! She also would be precious on top of a little girls birthday cake!!! A pale pink tiered cake with this little angel on top! SOOOO SWEET!!!



Here are some of her other birds... They are just too cute!!! You could use any of these for your cake topper! Just choose the colors you want...



How about these little precious darlings.... SOOO CUTE!!!

My other idea was to place them in a paper mache sail boat. Anne makes these too!! They are incredible! So, put the love birds in the sail boat and have Anne make you either a flag or a sail that reads, "Our Ship Has Come In..."

LOVE IT!!!! LOVE IT!!!! LOVE IT!!!!

See.... Isn't it cute!!! I LOVE IT!!!

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Just consider these as an alternative to the ever so popular Monogram, floral arrangement or couple placed on top of your cake... You will surprise your guests and leave them talking about the precious love birds that were on top of your cake... Don't be surprised if you see them on mine! I can't stop thinking about them!!!

Until next time...

Design your own COUTURE Shoes...

Ok... So, in my research today I came across SUCH a cute idea that I just had to share it with you... I have to give full credit to Green Wedding Shoes for the idea but it was just too cute not to share. DIY Couture Shoes... Why haven't I tried this before... I am such a HUGE shoe lover and especially love it when shoes are adorned with bows or ribbon. So, to me, this is GENIUS!!!

I am going to do this to my shoes for the fall! How cute would this be with jeans or a precious little dress with a cardigan! I am in!!!

Also, if you are looking for a cute way to dress up your boring white or ivory wedding shoes, use this! This could act as your "Something Blue..." Or even just add a pop of color. If your dress is long, no one will really even see it. You could just have your photographer snap a couple of cute pics of them and it can be your little show off secret under your dress... Make it representative of you! Mine would DEFINITELY be PINK PINK PINK!!! Try yellow, green, red, or a great printed fabric if you are soooooo bold...

Like I said, this is just a really cute idea to bring your shoes that are lifeless to a FABULOUS FLIRTY new life...

Are you a DIY Queen???? Ready and willing to "Do It Yourself" for that extra little pizazz!!! Well... if so, today I’m sharing how you can make your own couture wedding shoes – and the best part is they are really easy to make! You will need some comfortable shoes to start You will also need some nylon fishing line and some silk chiffon fabric in the color and/or pattern of your choice! Make sure you buy at least a yard so you have extra... If you really feeling SPICY, take the extra fabric and hem the edges for a simply precious couture scarf to accent your precious shoes!!!

Simply cut two pieces of fabric. 15″ x 13″ in length.

Then, fold the fabric in an accordion style with the 15″ length longest.

Take the fabric and tie a lose knot around the front of the shoe.

This is why it’s important to use a shoe the has a narrow middle part in the front.



Next, cut four pieces of fishing line about 30″ long. Then push one side in so there is a nice small bump and wrap the fishing line around where my fingers are below. Tie in a knot on the underside so you won’t see it. Wrap the fishing line around again and knot again.

Do that again so you have two small sections on each side.

And then repeat on the other side.

Once you have the first shoe done, go ahead and repeat on your second shoe.

Once you have your shoes done, trim the ends so they match each other in length.

And there you go!!!

Pretty shoes for your wedding day – easy to create and if you get tired of them, you can easily take off the fabric and use a different fabric! Aren't they PRECIOUS??? I just LOVE THEM! Plus, pretty feet are HAPPY FEET!!!

Until next time...

Love is in the air...

So... this past weekend, I spent a GREAT deal of time designing our "Save the Dates." It was A LOT of work but they turned out FANTASTIC! Once I have sent them and my guests have received the, I will post pictures of them. I think you all will LOVE them!

But, in the meantime, in my research, I came across the cutest idea for a Save the Date!!! Are you a modern / whimsical couple that loves the simple things? Consider this theme for your upcoming nuptials... "Love is in the Air"

These "Save the Dates" I found are just too much fun!!! They set the mood for an INCREDIBLY FUN event!!! FOR SURE...

Take a look...

Until next time...

SoleMates... OMG!!! They are AWESOME!!!

Sooooo... last week I was thumbing through the most recent issue of an Australian Wedding Magazine that I subscribe to and they had an ad for "SoleMates." Maybe one of the greatest inventions EVER!!! Don’t you just hate it when you get all pretty for an event and slip on your cutest pair of heels only to arrive to an event where you have to walk in the grass... YIKES!!! Your GORGEOUS heels sink into the grass? Or get stuck in a grate? Scraped up on cobblestones? Well... let me just tell you... SoleMates are here to SAVE THE DAY!!!

These handy little rubber guards slip over the tip of your heel and distribute the weight better giving you more sure footing. They really do work!!! It's amazing!!! They are sold in pairs and available in clear and black. Also, if you order them in bulk, you get a discount. Why not order a large quantity and put them in a cute little glass container on your sign-in table at your wedding... Your guests would think you are THE COOLEST bride EVER! I am totally ordering these for my wedding as the ceremony requires some grass walking and also some cobblestone walking! I LOVE THEM!!!

SoleMates are the must have accessory for any bride getting married outside - and don't forget your bridesmaids! Wear the SoleMates High Heeler® on grass, cobblestones, grates, and more...

No more discomfort, no more damage. The SoleMates High Heeler will revolutionize your high heel wearing experience! Discreet and easy to use, the SoleMates High Heeler attaches easily to most stiletto and kitten heels. By increasing the surface area on the base of the heel, it reduces the pressure on this area and prevents the heel from sinking into grass or falling into cracks!The patented design of the SoleMates High Heeler is mechanically engineered to fit snugly on most heels and yet the flexible material grips securely without damaging the heel or compromising the aesthetics of the shoe.

Until next time...

Ballerina Bride - SOOO PRETTY!

Ballerina Bride from Cloud Nine Creative on Vimeo.

Ok, so yesterday in my daily reading of my FAVORITE blogs, I came across this video... It is FABULOUS behind the scenes moments of the WedLuxe magazine photo shoot "Ballerina Bride." It is absolutely precious! Cloud Nine creative, the publishers of WedLuxe magazine filmed it and the video features Heather Ogden, a principle dancer with the National Ballet of Canada. The video also features one of Stephanie James Couture's precious tea length dresses... It appears around the 1:44 mark.

Anyways, I just thought this was ENTIRELY too cute not to share! I am seriously considering a tea length dress for the wedding and the video just made me smile! Plus, the bride is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!

Until next time...

We are back and have BIG NEWS!!!!

Well... what can I say... It has been ENTIRELY TOO LONG but we are BACK!

And... we have lots to share!!!

Joe and I got ENGAGED!!! WHOO HOO!!! We celebrated our one year anniversary yesterday so I thought it only appropriate to start blogging again and to share this really exciting news with all of you! I appreciate your patience in my absence... We have had sooo much going on but we are so excited to be back and have so many great ideas to share with all of you! I thought that today though I would dedicate this post to my precious fiance! He deserves it after all! He orchestrated the most romantic, thoughtful and sweet proposal and I want to make sure he knows just how special it was to me!

Now... Being that I am a wedding planner, I have to give Joe A LOT of credit! I am sure when he began putting all of this together he felt he was hiking Everest! The poor guy had to propose to a wedding planner and might I add someone who is probably THE BIGGEST hopeless romantic there is. I am! I totally believe in fairy tales and love nothing more than romance. And, I have seen it all! I have heard so many great engagement stories and often thought how is this poor guy going to pull this off! But, let me tell you... HE DID!!!

So.... Here it is...

Joe told me that we would be doing something special that Saturday night and that I needed to be ready at 6:30 PM for a romantic evening... So, we ran some errands together that day and I was totally exhausted from a long week so I told Joe I wanted to rest a little before we went out. For those of you that know me... I don't rest! I am always doing something! Well, he was completely annoyed by this! He had a million things to do to prepare for the proposal and now I was going to be in the way at home "resting!" So, he left and went about his "errands." I was ready at about 6:15 PM for our night out but Joe still hadn't come home. I called to see where he was and he said he was over at his sister's helping unload groceries and then was going to run to the market and would be home soon. I was sooo annoyed! So, about 5 minutes later, he called back and asked me to go check the date on the milk in the refrigerator to see if we needed any. My response: "Joe, milk costs $2.00, just get some and get home - SERIOUSLY!" His response: "No, go check in the refrigerator. I don't want to get it if we don't need it." UGH!!!! So, I went to check and there was NO MILK! But, there was a pink rose and a card. He told me to read the card right then. It was a beautiful card that he had made that had lyrics to a song on it... And then a super sweet note telling me that it was going to be a very romantic evening and that he was sending me on a treasure hunt to find him. On this hunt, I would be visiting some of our "firsts." Our first date, the first place he told a group of family and friends that he loved me and our first New Years...

So, I got in the car and headed to the restaurant where we had our "First Date." The restaurant was Tarbells and Harry the bartender met me at the bar with another rose and another note! That note also had song lyrics to "I've Had The Time of my Life." We sang it Karaoke at Julie and Rich's Christmas Party at 5th and Wine and at the end of the song, Joe went into this big speech about how he has had the time of his life with me and that he loved me more than anything... The crowd loved it! So, I drove myself to 5th and Wine and when I walked in Julie and Rich (Joe's Sister and Brother in Law) and his parents were waiting there for me. They were soooo sweet! Joe's father gave me the next note and his mother gave me a pink rose. That note also had song lyrics and instructions to go to the place we went for New Years and made promises about our future together! So, I drove to Sophie's Bistro. There, I was met with the last note and another pink rose. That note also had song lyrics and instructed me to go to the Royal Palms and to come to our special garden to meet Joe. So, I headed to the Royal Palms.

Joe had setup rose petals and candles EVERYWHERE! There were also musicians and a photographer there to capture all of it! He was standing in the center of the garden holding a vintage jewelry box waiting for me!

It was all sooooo pretty and so romantic!!!

He also had arranged for us to have dinner in the garden after he proposed! The whole thing was just so incredibly romantic! This was the table and the floral arrangement he arranged all by himself!!

He met me there and had the most beautiful things to say to me... He told me how much he loved me and could not wait to spend his life with me...

I tried really hard not to cry but as you can see in this picture it didn't work!!!

Then... He got down on his knee and asked me to share my life with him and be his wife... Of course, I said YES!!!

He then put the ring on my finger and it is FABULOUS! We had visited an antique store that Joe used to volunteer for while he attended Law School in La Jolla, CA called Ark Antiques and came across this GORGEOUS antique ring! It was INCREDIBLE. We weren't really looking for rings at that point but Joe noticed it and we both just loved it. It was made in 1890 and was in its original setting. It was an old mine cut diamond set in yellow gold and had 22 small diamonds set in the antique filigree setting. We totally fell in love with it but of course, I had to play it SUPER COOL and not show too much excitement as I didn't want to scare Joe. Well, I guess he thought it was perfect because he called the antique store the day we got home and bought it. He put it away and kept it a secret for several months... CRAZY!!! That night, when he gave it to me, I was soooo incredibly excited! I love the story behind it and I love that it is so different and special! It is truly one of a kind... PS. For those of you looking for a ring, consider antique stores! They have BEAUTIFUL RINGS and I am sure you will be able to find something SURE TO IMPRESS! Don't worry... I will dedicate a post specifically to this subject soon and will share some excellent stores both locally and nationally that have an incredible selection!

So... we are engaged! Joe and I are getting married!!! I could not be happier!!!

It was a beautiful evening and I owe it all to my fiance! He outdid himself!!!

We are planning a wedding for late February 2011... It will be an intimate affair with our closest family and friends and we cannot wait!!!

It has been a whirlwind since the engagement but we are having a great time planning the wedding! I am going to try really hard not to just post about our wedding and to still stay true to sharing great ideas and my work with you but just bear with me... I am incredibly excited!!!

I have been doing LOTS of research so luckily I have a TON of stuff to share with all of you and have several weddings in the next 6 months so I will also be sharing that with you too! So, stick with us! This is going to be a lot of fun and it feels SOOOO GOOD to be back! I missed all of you bunches! I look forward to hearing from all of you...

Until next time...