4 Pack Ticket Winners Announced!

Congratulations to Brittney, Anne, and Katie! Enjoy the show and we hope to see you there! Thanks to all who emailed as well - be on the lookout for more fun contests in the future!

Today's Bride Show Coming to Cleveland 1/17/10

We hope everyone had a wonderful and restful holiday last week! Today, we're excited to announce our participation in the Today's Bride Show at the IX Center on 1/17/10! We'll be unveiling our brand new division, and new service offerings, as well as special pricing and gifts to all of our brides in attendance. To kick things off, we'd like to offer the first 3 brides that email us at info@shi-shievents.com a FREE 4 pack of tickets to attend the show! Make sure to put Today's Bride Show in the subject line & be in touch!

We ♥ Hello Super 8!

We were tipped off by Rebecca Crumley of The Knot about Hello Super 8! They produce wonderfully modern wedding videos and video guest books using the decidedly vintage medium of Super 8 film. We have decided we think they're spectacular!

Take a peek at their 2009 wedding highlights reel found on their blog to see more of what Hello Super 8 can do for you. Enjoy!

2009 Hello Super 8 wedding highlights from Hello Super 8 on Vimeo.

Stylist Secrets for Your Day Of Emergency Kit

Having a wedding day emergency kit is the standard for every bride-to-be on her big day. Most have the necessary "go to" items like:

-Nail file

-Kleenex

-Fabric tape

-Dental floss

-Shout wipes or a Tide To Go pen

etc.

We include all of these items and more in our Day Of Emergency Kits, and encourage you to add these often overlooked items to yours:

-Hollywood Behind the Seams ($10/12 shields)

Undetectable disposable shields line the inside of your dress to prevent underarm stains.

-Expert's Choice Shoe Stretch ($2/1.15 fl. oz.)

This spray instantly softens leather to make shoes more comfortable.

-Strap Tamers ($9/6 concealers)

These little clips fasten straps to the shoulder seams of your dress so they'll stay put all night.

-Mighty Mendit ($9/3 fl. oz.)

For use on any fabric rips, torn hems, etc. It sounds funny, but this product has saved the day for us on several occasions!

-Band-Aid Blister Block ($7/1 roll on stick)

This roll-on formula creates an invisible barrier between your shoe and foot preventing blisters from forming.

A Note of Thanks!

We received such a beautiful note of thanks from Shi Shi couple, Dan & Erica today that we had to share it with you. We loved working with them, and can't wait to share photos of their spectacular wedding day with you!

"Dear Gina & Shi Shi Family,

Thank you; thank you; thank you!!! We are so very grateful to have had you on our team! We could not have done it without you! You went above and beyond to make our day not only gorgeous but a reality!!! You became a good friend, who truly cared about us and that means the world!

With love,

Dan & Erica"

Look for the gorgeous shots from Dan & Erica's wedding coming soon!

More Ring Pillows From 5eizen!

So we've been posting the absolutely lovely, crush inducing ring pillows from 5eizen we found on Etsy all week on our Facebook page. And, we want to fill you in! Here are the rest of the pillows we love so much, we spent a week covering them:

Now Featured On Elizabeth Anne Designs!

We are so thrilled to announce our inclusion in Elizabeth Anne Designs vendor library! EAD is one of our favorite blogs to peruse, as it's chock full of eye candy and DIY ideas. We particularly love this gray and purple inspiration board Elizabeth designed. We're sure you'll agree this deliciously opulent and vintage inspired board is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what you'll find amidst her pages!

Shi Shi on Wedding Chicks!

Erin & Brian's wedding is featured on the Wedding Chicks blog today - check it out!

Just click here.

Ring Pillows Get Chic

Often overlooked, and mostly not quite fashionable, the ring bearer's pillow typically falls into the "What do I do about that?" category with our brides. We found this completely gorgeous option by 5eizen today on Etsy. And, we think the entire line is so utterly splurge worthy that we're going to pepper them into our posts all week. Enjoy!

A Very Merry Un-Birthday To Us!

We're celebrating our (4th) birthday this week with swoon worthy savings for YOU on our Full and Partial Planning services. Want to join in the celebration? Call 440-623-3822 or email us at info@shi-shievents.com by Sunday 10/25. After that, we pack up the party (and the savings) until next year!

Perfect Wedding Day Videography

I found another video by Stillmotion, an absolutely delightful photo & cinema studio based in Toronto, on The Cinderella Project this afternoon. It was an absolutely perfect video from start to finish and overwhelmingly touching. So I visited Stillmotion's site and found this. Undeniably great work. If you are questioning the need for a video, imagine yours looking like this.

jc plus esther // all 7d highlights from stillmotion on Vimeo.

Engagement sessions are a beautiful thing. We love it when our brides and grooms book them with their photographers! The biggest benefit of an engagement session is that you and your fiance get a chance to work the camera prior to your wedding day. Practice makes perfect, as for most people, comfortability in the presence of a lens is the key to great shots.

What does all of this mean? An engagement session can equal better photos on your wedding day! Your photographer has already gotten a chance to see what your shooting style is as a couple, and you've already gotten out all of your pre-lens jitters. So, you can expect seamless shooting, and far less "awkward moments" than if you had not elected for an engagement session.

Here are some engagement session tips from us to you:

The shots featured here are from the wonderfully talented Steven Mastroianni. Our couple, Timothea & Pat, plan to be married at a private home in North Bloomfield, OH in June of next year. The home is positioned on over 125 acres of gorgeous grounds where these shots were taken just last week.

We always recommend choosing sites that are personal to you not only for your engagement session, but for your wedding

day photos as well. Every element of your wedding helps to tell your story as a couple, so the places "in the background" should mean something to the two of you. For Timothea & Pat the site of their wedding made perfect sense as their were so many different areas in which to shoot and the homeowners are lifelong friends of the bride's family.

For you, a personal site might mean your favorite restaurant or bar, a city park, a coffeehouse, a bookstore, or your favorite place to spend a Sunday. What matters, is that the spot you choose, matters to you. Trust us, if you're shooting somewhere close to your hearts, it will shine through in the photographs as it does here with Timothea & Pat.

Some couples like to schedule their engagement session during the season in which their wedding will be held, and some like to shoot during their favorite time of year regardless of the season of the wedding. We think either are great. However, if you're planning on using shots from the engagement session for your save the dates, keep in mind save the dates should be sent out to guests no later than 6 months prior to the wedding. Talk with your photographer about your timeline and schedule accordingly.

Last but not least, we love engagement sessions bound into guest books. This is a lovely way to put a twist on the traditional guest book, by allowing your friends and family to leave personal messages among your favorite engagement shots. Guests love it too! Ask your photographer if this is an option they can provide for you.

Weekly Eye Candy

We're inspired! And not just by gorgeous tabletops and stunning gowns, but by everyday things like furniture, clothing, accessories, etc. We think that when done right, it's all art. And so, we've decided to share our inspiration with you each week. Stop by and see us on Facebook, even "fan" us if you'd like and then come back often to check out what we're craving. We just posted our first piece, and it's lovely!

A Note of Thanks

We were honored and delighted to design and plan the wedding of Cynthia and Michael at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens on Saturday, September 5th.  The couple resides in Los Angeles, and were only in town a handful of times before the wedding, so we really maximized our use of weekly conference calls, emails, and of course the time they were able to spend here.  The result was an intimate, beautiful, flora and fauna themed wedding day capped with spectacular September weather.  We can't wait to share photos from their wedding day with you!  On Tuesday, I received this letter of thanks from our new bride: 

"Hi Gina,

I can't believe the wedding's over! Mike and I were so happy with the way everything turned out. Thank you so much for all your help and hard work with it all!...Again, thanks so much for everything! It was such a great night! Things couldn't have turned out better!

All the best,
Cynthia"

We too wish Cynthia and Michael all the best, for they are truly an inspiring couple.  Love and luck from all of us here in the Shi Shi Events family!!

Fan Us on Facebook

So, we at Shi Shi are definitely Facebook addicts.  That being said, we just launched our Shi Shi Events page on Facebook!  You can become a fan of Shi Shi Events by clicking here.  

Check our page regularly to see new photos, get updates on what we're working on, and all of our (gotta have it, love love love it) style musings!

What a Summer!

Wow!  What a summer we've had here at Shi Shi Events!  Many new photos will be coming to the site soon, so please stay tuned.  

We're excited for our brides yet to be married this year and are putting the final touches on their wedding day plans.  And, we're just beginning to develop our brides' weddings for our 2010 season.  For those of you also planning for 2010, here are some helpful questions to ask when seeking your caterer: 

1) Do you have experience catering to my type/size of event?  (This is especially important if you are having your wedding reception at an "off-site" venue.) 

2) Is there a fee for the food tasting?  

3) How many may attend the tasting?

4) What is the guest to staff ratio?

5) Do we have to purchase all beer/wine/liquor through you?

6) If a cake is brought in by another baker, is there a cake cutting fee?

7) Do you provide china, flatware, and glassware?

8) What service charges and fees to you apply to my total event order?

9) What happens to the food that is leftover?

10) What is the typical deposit for your services? 

Shi Shi Wedding Slated to Appear in the Fall/Winter Issue of The Knot Ohio!

We are excited to announce that our October 4, 2008 bride, Emily Heigel Kennedy, will have her wedding featured in the Fall/Winter Real Weddings editorial in The Knot Ohio magazine! We are thrilled The Knot chose Emily's wedding, and are honored to have worked with Emily and Michael to create their spectacular wedding day!  Here's a sneak peek at some of the shots The Knot loved:  

Look for the Fall/Winter issue to hit newsstands this summer.  

Congratulations Emily and Michael!

Did You Know?

A Wedding Planner typically pays for themselves!  Once you factor in:

1) the discounts you receive from the vendors who work with the planner on a regular basis

2) the time you save by having the planner manage your planning timeline and appointments

3) the invaluable design, etiquette, and planning ideas and advice he/she gives

the cost of hiring a planner is usually $0!    

Shop Love!

If you're seeking style inspiration for your wedding or the home you'll share together, look no further than Mitchell Sotka in Rocky River.  Mitchell fills his antique shop with fabulous finds from all over the world and there's always something new to uncover.  We think his showcase of pieces truly represents "a way of living".  You can find Mitchell Sotka in the Shops of Old River at 19071 Old Detroit Road, Rocky River.    

A Wedding Stimulus Plan

Over the past several weeks and months we've certainly all read the headlines and heard the stories of what a troubled state our economy is in and what we we should/could do about it.  The state of our economy can make things like planning a wedding, purchasing a home or car, or making any large financial commitments an even bigger deal than they normally would be.  Some are suggesting to save every penny, some are suggesting to spend what you can to stimulate growth, and some are just completely confused (I fall into this category).  My two cents is that we all have seen ups and downs not only in our country's economy, but in our own personal "economies" if you will.  And this too, in my opinion, shall pass in due time.  Why am I writing about this on a wedding blog?  Because in these cost conscious times, there are some things you can do to maximize your budget when planning your wedding and still get a big impact.  How might you ask? 

1) Make it intimate.  Spend your wedding day with your closest family and friends and then send announcements to extended family and acquaintances after the wedding day.

2) Choose 2 or 3 areas of your wedding you really want to focus on like floral, photography and food, or location, food, and entertainment and spend the bulk of your budget here.  Let the rest of your planning "to do" list fall into place and in line budget wise with where each item falls on your priorities list.  

3) Go thrifting!  Many clients have had great success both style and wallet wise by finding decor pieces for the tabletop at estate sales, flea markets, and online at sites like eBay and craigslist.  The best part is after the wedding you can use these pieces in your new home or gift them to friends and relatives.

4) Get creative with your menu selections.  Not only are there more options out there than filet and lobster, but many of them show off your personal style and food favorites as a couple much better!  Your presentation of the meal can be creative too - try active food stations where guests can watch as a chef prepares their meal, or serve a multiple course tapas-style meal where guests are served a series of small plates to up your flavor quotient.
  

5) Forget the fully stocked bar and offer guests a selection of fine wines, champagne, and beer.  You can add 1-2 signature cocktails to the mix to personalize it for your guests while still keeping the costs down.  

These certainly aren't the only ways to maximize your bottom line, but they're a start as you begin your planning.  Above all, remember that finding something inexpensive ("a value") doesn't always equate to finding something of value.  

Chocolate Love!

So, I can't say enough about Vosges Haut Chocolat the fabulously purple boxed spreaders of "peace, love, and chocolate".  I first discovered Vosges several years ago when they created a line of perfectly chocolate scented candles for the holidays (unfortunately no longer available).  It was then that I realized they also created amazing truffles and other chocolate confections with truly exotic flavor combinations like one of my favorites, Red Fire - Mexican ancho and chipotle chiles, ceylon cinnamon and dark chocolate.  You can make Vosges a part of your celebration with their fantastic favors featured in the photo above.  There are several box styles and ribbon colors available in house, all at a reasonable price.  You can be sure your favors will be a huge hit with this little bit of heaven in a little purple (or white) box.  

Site Renovation Complete!

As promised, our Style Muses are now fully updated.  Find your inspiration by visiting our muses, easily accessible from anywhere on the site.  

Shi Shi and Wedding Chicks!

We are happy to announce our partnership with Wedding Chicks!  Wedding Chicks is a fabulous blog brought to you by Jocey and Amy, who share their wedding musings on fashion, details, etc. and bring you fantastic giveaways!  Check them out here and be sure to watch out for Shi Shi postings of real weddings, and our wedding musings on Wedding Chicks!

Pardon Our Dust!

Please bear with us as we update our galleries.  In the coming days you will find all of the galleries in our Style Muses to look like "The Classic" does currently.  We hope you'll enjoy the changes and thank you for your patience while things are out of sorts!  

5 Big Wedding Planning Myths

Check out our article on Today's Bride online about some of the BIG myths brides take as truths when planning.  You can access the article by clicking here.

Did You Know?

I found a fun fact today in the Winter 2009 edition of InStyle Weddings and thought I'd share.  "The oldest invitation suite, circa 1600s, was just an invite and two envelopes.  (Guests wrote their own RSVPs.)  The reception card and response set were added in the late 1800s."  We've come a long way since then with save the dates, custom stamps, and couture invitations - haven't we girls?  

Comfort and Joy...Introducing the Martins

On December 6, 2008 Lauren and Jeff were married at St. Paul's Shrine on Euclid Avenue.  Their reception was held at the Union Club in downtown Cleveland on that snowy winter night.  It was very fitting, as snow and frost permeated the wedding design, with the use of many frosted branches, and snow filled cylinders housing the guest tables' centerpieces.  The bride was bedecked in a fur stole to keep warm and wore a custom couture dress from Fyodor Atelier at La Place in Beachwood.  Some special touches to the evening included place cards in the form of snow globes, and a heart felt toast "via satellite" from the groom's brother and Best Man, who couldn't be in attendance due to the birth of his second child.  You can find more photos from the wedding in the "Classic Elegance" section of our Style Muses online.  

New Terminology, Same Shi Shi

Today I had a very eye opening conversation that has energized me in ways I couldn't have imagined or anticipated.  In light of this "A-ha!" moment, you will find some changes on our site.  There are now words used to describe our services that aren't typically associated with wedding planning.  In the past, I have been afraid to use words like "brand" or "brand experience" for fear they may not be understood.  There is still that chance that they may not be understood, but these concepts have always been the soul of what we do.  They are what set Shi Shi Events apart from the rest.  And in that moment of clarity today, I found the words and the courage to make our first impression to you, one that shows how different we truly are as a wedding planning firm.  I hope you find the site changes as refreshing as I do, and inspiration in the work pictured.  I am blessed to have many clients who have taken the journey with me, you truly are the reason.  And, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.    

There will also be changes to this blog.  I'll be sharing design musings and planning tips with you, as well as some of my favorite moments from recent weddings.  And, I'll be asking for your feedback.  Send me a planning, etiquette, or design question to info@shi-shievents.com and if you're featured on the blog, we'll send you a little something special as a thank you.  

Enjoy the changes, and we look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you!

What a busy, wonderful season 2008 was for us!  And, we'd like to take the opportunity to send warm wishes for the new year and many thanks to all of the clients that helped make it so special!  May your marriages be blessed with many happy years to come.

Photos of 2008 weddings are available now throughout the site.  Thank you to our fabulous photographers for providing these gorgeous images!  We look forward to working with you in 2009!

Early season booking specials are available now to new clients through February 14, 2009 on all Shi Shi Events' services.  Call 440-623-3822 or email info@shi-shievents.com for more information!