How is everyone doing since we last connected last week? Still on survival mode, but maybe with a little more rejuvenation with the long weekend? Hope so! And for my super hustling friends that worked the holiday, cheers to you for working so hard! I feel like this is the season in our industry that any kind of encouragement- cheesy or not, is welcomed :) 

I realize this today's post may or may not be my most popular one, but I feel there are some things that need to be said as I'm sure many other planners may feel the same way. Something that has come to my attention as we've been in full swing this spring and summer wedding season has been the opportunity to work with so many great vendors, and as we all know how I like to keep it honest here, some not so great. This has nothing to do with the talent or services offered. I strongly believe every single one of our businesses fits a certain bride's taste and needs, so we all are very valuable. It's the ability to work together with another vendor to make a wedding the most memorable event for the couple that sets you above the others. 

Let's break this down. There are several components to make a wedding truly successful: the venue, the planner, the photographer, the beauty team, the florist, the caterer, the DJ or band, the rental companies, and the list goes on depending on the extent of the event. Each of these components are moving parts on the Big Day and someone has to manage it all. Strongly hoping it isn't the bride herself, she has hired a planner or coordinator to make sure this all runs smoothly while she gets to relax. If the planner hasn't sent you a timeline of the day the week before the wedding, it might be a good idea to reach out to her and see if she has one. This is a good opportunity for you to connect as well. If she has, it is very important you do read this and make sure things match up on your end. Many times when couples meet with their vendors, different things can be said which is only natural since they probably have all sorts of things running in their minds. The main goal and point of this is to get on the same page so that when it is showtime, everyone is clear on what to do. The worst thing in my opinion that can happen at a wedding is when vendors don't work together. That is a controllable factor that the couple has paid us to do! 

Sometimes, you're not going to get to work with your other vendor friends- sorry. The couple themselves or along with their planner have done their research and hired vendors that fit their style and budget. Although I do think it is beneficial to go along with a vendor's preferred list because of the existing chemistry and trust, this is not always going to happen. This does not excuse you to only communicate with the vendors you do know and dismiss the ones you don't. Use this as an opportunity to network! There is so much value to gaining more business on the job as there are so many potential clients attending a wedding. I feel like we are all professional enough to handle this, but take this as a friendly reminder :)

An image Courtnee Murphy Photography snapped of me styling our recent shoot together. Can't wait to share the pretty! See what beauty teamwork can create? 

I think it's easy as small business owners to get comfortable in what we know and not want to venture out of our zones, (being creatives only add to the stigma!), but we have to understand that a wedding can be a huge production. It requires so many hands on deck and lots of teamwork. Keep in mind we have the same objective: to serve and deliver for our couples!

Hi there! Taking a little break from wedding talk and going into some personal business talk. I'm just going to come right out and say it- anyone else out there feeling like they've got little to no fuel left? Like you're running on auto pilot because that's the only way you can function at this point in the season- I'm with you! Running a business is tough. It's tough to cater to every single demand and you feel like you're being pulled in a million directions. 

Let's take a moment here and choose our battles. I whole-heartedly understand the need and desire to fulfill every single client's wish and to bend over backwards so you can get that praise of satisfaction. Maybe that's the 1000 pound weight of perfectionism I tend to wear on my back talking, but if you own your own business, you can relate to pouring your heart and soul into a client or product. But let's think about this- is it worth losing ourselves over? Is it worth putting husbands, families, or our own self care on the back burner? Sounds pretty extreme when it's actually put into words, but that's what tends to happen sometimes and I've been a big offender! 

By all means, hustle and do the work you love- just don't lose yourself in it because that is so easy to do. Take a moment each day to enjoy the things you love to do- run, watch a show, or go to Target without being in a rush. Maybe even sit down to drink your coffee without answering emails. Cook a full meal. Actually pray and spend time reading a devotional. Truly spend time with family and friends- without thinking about your work or checking your phone. I really want to do all of this. I should be doing all of this! It's time to turn this around and let my business work for me, not work for my business. With that said, I'm going to sign off and watch an episode of Downton Abbey without feeling guilty :)

Photo from Ginny Au's Dallas workshop. She's a styling master and I hope to share more of what I learned from that soon! 

Mother's Day. A day of so much celebration for motherhood, yet a day of grief for many out of motherhood. I'm going to be transparent here and say that I feel as "out" of motherhood as I can be at this point in my life, but I will say that I am at peace with that being where God has me right now. More transparency- I don't always feel that peace! If today is one of those days you don't quite feel the content, here's to all my sisters in need of a little lift:

To the ones who have lost their mothers: This I relate to the most, as I know how painful today can be watching so many others get to spend the day with their moms and shower her with appreciation. You can celebrate today too as you remember your mom and the love she poured over you. I also encourage you to embrace the moms who are still with us today and let them know how much they are cherished. God bless these women who step in and fill in for our mothers who have gone to heaven!

To the ones who have lost children: For those in this category, my most sincerest prayers for your aching hearts. I cannot imagine the pain you feel everyday nonetheless what today specifically celebrates. Rejoice that they are dancing with Jesus in heaven and that  you will see them one day again. Big hugs to you. 

To those are soon to be mothers: I'm so excited for you and the journey you'll take. I pray for the little ones growing in your bellies to not just grow to be physically strong and healthy, but to have solid, God-fearing hearts. I can only imagine the rush of feelings you may have- anxiety, excitement, nervousness, the list goes on I'm sure. As I don't know from personal experience, but from many observations, you can never be fully prepared. You can never have it all figured out by the time he or she is born. You just have to trust in the instincts you were given. 

To those who hope to be mothers one day: I can relate to this feeling as well. You may be longing to be with child, or it may not be right now but hope to become a mother someday. Either way, I pray for patience and peace as you prepare your hearts for His plan. It can be a long road and sometimes seem hopeless, but I urge you to remain faithful- there is purpose to everything! In the meantime, love on your husbands and reinforce your marriages, that is the main foundation to any family. 

To the fur moms: You aren't forgotten! You are equally as important and should celebrate today with all the other moms. We have just as much responsibility- bathing, feeding, potty accidents, cuddles, exercising, disciplining, it's a lot of work! If those pups and kitties had thumbs, they would be covering your homes with all sorts of cards and flowers letting you know how much they appreciate your big hearts. Instead, the kisses and wagging tails will have to suffice :)

Cheers to all of you women for sharing your love with us and for being selfless time and time again. You're the real MVPs! 

suc·cu·lent

 (sŭk′yə-lənt) A plant having fleshy leaves or stems that store water. Cacti are succulents.

I think it's safe to say succulents have vastly grown in popularity for weddings and home decor over the years. It's easy to see why- they're easy to care for, resilient, and so darn cute. I have always loved these darling plants, but it was around when I was planning my own wedding that I came to understand and appreciate how cool they really were. My mother-in-love gifted me a beautiful succulent garden for one of my bridal showers and long story short, I pretty much killed it. It started to draw bugs so I left it outside to get out of the way and a few weeks later, I saw sprouts- so I was actually helping it by abandoning it! This started to fascinate me so I began succulentology (yes, another weird I randomly created).

Here is the soldier of a garden that started it all, stayed alive with me for over 2 years, and still going strong!

Today I'm going to share a fun little workshop I decided to put together to share my love and knowledge of succulents. Big thanks to my sweet friend, Charla Storey Photography for capturing everything! We gathered at event1013 in Plano, Texas and before class started, we had a few bites and of course- some sips!

Then we got to the good stuff- talking succulents and making terrariums. I will have to say, I'm pretty glad I'm not a teacher, there's so much prep in lesson planning! Let's give a big high five to all the teachers out there! Nonetheless, it was so fun to share the tips and tricks I learned along the way growing and caring for these plants. 

This adorable print was created by Clara Doyle Designs and gifted to each attendee.

We loved having a gentleman succulent lover attend our workshop!

Everyone got to add a little gold animal friend to their new ecosystems. 

A secret trick I use for working in these small spaces: chopsticks!

Everyone did such a great job with their terrariums, I was so impressed! I had a blast meeting new people and sharing experiences with gardening. We had such a good turn out, that means I'll be in the works of planning another one this summer! Fort Worth, I'm coming for you! 

Our first wedding of 2015 was so full of joy, laughter, and a good celebration. Samantha and Josh said their vows at Hidden Springs Events in Aubrey, Texas and although it was an overcast day, the beauty of spring was still prevalent. These two lovebirds are such a sweet and light-hearted couple and when you see them together, you know their loves run deep.

We did month-of coordination and floral design for their wedding and I will say the bonus of this process was working with Samantha's darling mother- she was a blast to be around. I always love a good mother/daughter duo! And a double bonus? Working with our dear friends at The Tarnos Photography! My inbox is always so happy when I get stunning images from them!