humbly honored.

just received my blue ribbon vendor badge from Whitney over at Southern Weddings magazine. {giddy}

i cannot wait to see what they come up with for this insane promotion!

Cabo Fiesta Inspiration

Are you ready for some color?

The ladies over at Southern Weddings were definitely ready for loads of color when they featured this South Florida Wedding Inspiration photo shoot in August - love them!

Here is more from this photo shoot with Chelsey Boatwright & Millie V's, Inc.

La Vida de Amor!

This couple was so fun to work with as were the ladies that put this photo shoot together, with me! I love doing styled shoots - if you have an idea or would like to model for one - let me know!

Have an amazing week! xoxo

Rainy Monday Afternoon

Some pretty exciting things are going on in the world of Desiree Dawn Events and I am feeling exquisitely blessed!

Malachi 3:10 - thanks to my mother for always making me aware of His scripture working in my life.
"Test me in this and see if I will not open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out a blessing that you cannot contain"

Neat Things:

1. Chelsey Boatwright Photography & I have combined forces and are offering an amazing deal to new Fall 2011 clients - stay tuned for that!
2. Along with that deal, we have decided to create a co-company so we can market ourselves as a team...more on that very soon!!
3. And I got a really exciting email today from the lovely Emily over at Southern Weddings - our South Florida Cabo inspiration shoot will be feature...TOMORROW! I cannot wait for y'all to see what Emily has put together!!!

More to come - thanks again to everyone for their support!

Southern Weddings

This post has been a long time coming - and I am so elated that it's finally here.

Background: On April 28th, 2007 my very dear friend & sorority sister from UF, Nikki Morette, was married off to the one and only Rob Bell - which proved to be the most epic weekend of my life (at that point) in the amazing town of Pensacola, FL. I completely fell in love with the panhandle (or Lower Alabama, L.A.) after a series of trips in preparation for this wedding - engagement party, bridesmaid's luncheon, etc.  It was an honor to stand up for Nikki and Rob as they committed forever to each other and I was so grateful for all of their hospitality throughout that weekend - an amazing rehearsal dinner and after party, gorgeous monogrammed robes and beach bags, not to mention the mimosas at the beach house - to name a few. But, it wasn't until the afternoon of that wedding that it hit me - how epic this weekend really would be.

When we arrived at the reception at Plaza de Luna by the Palafox Pier, I knew that this night would be awesome. As the wedding party was introduced, turquoise signature cocktails were passed, hand-rolled sushi was devoured, and a live Jazz band direct from the Bayou played old rock n'roll as we danced and celebrated. I couldn't help but wonder how in the world this event went off without a hitch!?

And that is when I met Danielle of Bliss - and my whole world changed. Danielle explained to me that she was a wedding planner and that her and her team coordinated everything from the menu to the flowers, the music to the chairs and everything in between!

Desiree: So, people hire you to do this?

Danielle: Yes.

Desiree: (taking a sip from my bright blue martini) Really? They pay you to plan weddings and parties?

Danielle: Yes!

Desiree: (taking a deep breath) I have to do this, too.

Danielle: Yes!!

And that was that. I went back home to South Florida and began looking up wedding planners that were taking on apprentices. I met up with Jennifer Silliman and she hired me as a day-of wedding assistant where I worked with many other talented ladies on several weddings throughout South Florida. Another one of her assistants was Marissa who's lovely style and keen marketing sense instantly made me a fan (so much so, that I later asked her to help with my own wedding day!). I spent two years learning with Jennifer and I value that time to this day; but I wanted more!

I put a lot of thought and consideration into starting my own wedding planning business - what values were important to me, how and where I would market. I began to research the wedding community; blogs, magazines, vendors. It helped a lot when I got engaged and was able to experience, first hand, how all of these mediums really help brides get inspired! Let's not mention how in that same year, FOUR of my closest girlfriends were getting married, too. Throughout this process, I kept going back to Bliss Event Group and wishing that there was something like that in South Florida - southern and sweet. Well, right about that time one of the founders of Bliss, Lara Casey, had decided to take her blog Southern Weddings to print. I picked up my first volume of the magazine and my jaw dropped. It truly is a beautiful magazine spread. At that point, I was hooked on Southern Weddings and Lara - she's brilliant, y'all!!!

Once the decision to launch Desiree Dawn Events was made - the next in line was a marketing strategy. I contacted lots of planners, photographers, and floral designers for their input. One of the editors at SW suggested I talk to Katherine Miller of Charleston, SC - she was a great help! And one day, while I was gettin' my hair 'did, my stylist suggested I talk to her sister who was a wedding photographer...few weeks later, I met with Chelsey and that "vendship" has blossomed tremendously! (later I found out while flipping through V3, that her wedding was featured on pg.121-124!)

And now here we are: I am the owner and operator of Desiree Dawn Events - green wedding design. I get to combine two of my passions; beautiful weddings and loving on our environment. And after one year of business, I saw my name in lights!

Today, I was given some Sponsor Love  on my favorite wedding blog.

I know this may seem silly and over the top to some, but this really is an achievement for me. I am proud of where I started, where I came from and more so, I am so excited about what's to come. Just like Lara tweeted and my only tattoo says, Believe.

I did. I do. I will.

Future Goals: I believe that God's desire is to bless this business - I feel His presence each time I see a couple commit and I know that it's the talents He bestowed upon me that will continue my successes. I hope to have a collaborative shoot featured in the next volume of Southern Weddings print edition and for Desiree Dawn Events to emerge at the forefront of wedding planning in South Florida.

don't stop, Believin'!

Ruffled feathers...and flowers, and table runners, and vases, etc.

In the spirit of being green...I am obsessed with this new idea. Recycling/Reusing/Selling wedding items!!!! (duh, right?)

I have heard of pre-worn wedding gowns (for the brave) and definately have supported passing on items to friends or making things on your own and/or buying items for the wedding that can be used in your home after the big day...BUT...seriously...there are some wedding items that will NEVER be used again.

i.e.

32" Martini Glass from the Bar

Scoops from your Candy Buffet

12 sharpie markers from your guest book (only 1 was used)

Galvanized buckets

80 Mason Jars from your signature cocktail

etc..
etc...
etc.....

Wouldn't it be great if you could sell off these random items without hosting a huge garage sale?
(if you even have a garage...chances are you don't or you wouldn't care about getting rid of odd items)

Garage Sale Sign Reads: "New Bride Selling Post-Wedding Oddities. New Husband Thanks You." :)



Scene Two: Ruffled - Recycle Your Wedding
this ultra-trendy and earth friendly idea, allows you to regain the domain of your guest bedroom and/or gives your husband his valued "Man Cave" back. They will host your items on the site...get this...FOR FREE!! And better yet, future brides can find DIY items (already done) and other usable items at a fraction of the original price. It's like ETSY on steroids!!!

Note: Desiree Dawn Events does not condone the use or distribution of steriods. :)

I am really excited about using this site for selling some of my items (hoarding habits aside).

Let's be honest, I am PUMPED about buying some rockin' stuff, for cheap, and seeing it show up on my doorstep! woo!

Happy Eco-Friendly Hunting!
~Desiree

ps: Happy Birthday to my 4 year old pup, Gator!

Rachel Jane PHOTOGRAPHY

Not sure which one I am more anxious about!

I just applied to be on two pretty awesome vendor websites:

www.soyoureengayged.com

and

http://www.greenbrideguide.com/

I found out about So You're Engayged from my favorite photographer, Samantha Yeakle..just a little embarassed I didn't think of it myself. But that's okay! And the Green Bride Guide has been a good piece of information for myself for a long while! I'm sure they both will have ideas for me to improve my Eco-Friendly and LGBT-Friendly sides...and I welcome the help.

Here's to 2011 and beyond...for weddings that celebrate the earth and ALL who live here!

May we love mother earth the way we love our partners! :)