Darren, Tiffany, and me..Part Two

As mentioned in my previous blog, my friendship with Darren and Tiffany became truly strong as we worked and prayed together in the months leading up to their celebration.

Our goal from the beginning was to emphasize the depth of their relationship with God and with each other, as well as their appreciation for understated elegance, attention to detail, and of course, food to "die for"! All these elements, and so much more, came together to create a beautiful event which reminds me exactly WHY I love being a wedding planner! Thank you Darren and Tiffany for your friendship, love, and memories!

Amazing photo by Catherine Hall, of the Great Hall, Kohl Mansion, as the guests saw it when they entered...truly magical!

For a beautiful overview of Tiffany and Darren's wedding, please check out Catherine Hall's blog post and the slide show she links from that blog post. Incredible images and memories!

It Was All Worth It!!

First Report from The Academy for Planners + Designers, March 14-16th, 2010:

They came, they learned/taught/laughed/shared, and now they are gone! I miss each and every attendee and speaker who made the Inaugural Academy for Planners + Designers the amazing success it was! I am so thankful to have been a part of this rich and multi-level learning opportunity.

Me, David Beahm, and Jubilee just after he spoke at the Four Seasons, SF

David Beahm, of David Beahm Designs in New York, was someone I connected with instantly the moment we first spoke on the phone in November, about his coming to SF as a teacher for our Academy. Our 3 days together served to strengthen and establish what will definitely be a life long, cross country friend ship. We all loved David!

Nicole Iverson from Swank Stems, Grace Ormonde, Holly Chappel, and Alicia Schwede from Bella Fiori Events before the Monday night Museum of Petals Dinner in honor of Grace Ormonde.

Because I was so busy, I was not able to take photos, so I am relying on the images shot by Holly Chappel, an amazing floral designer from Loudoun, Virgina, who has become a treasured friend! Thanks Holly for sharing your photos! Please check out her blog , A Full Bouquet, for an enthusiastic first-hand description of TAPD.

David Beahm describing a tent wedding and reception he planned and designed on an estate in New York.

Todd Fiscus, of Todd Events, introduced us to the amazing multi level design business he has developed in Dallas Texas. Please look at his website...his business is AMAZING, as is the website which represents it!

Rebecca Grinnals, of Engaging Concepts, is widely known as today's expert in wedding marketing; those of us who were a part of TAPD know that we could be with her for weeks, and never hear all the wonderful insight she has into the wedding industry. Thank you Rebecca for enlightening and encouraging all of us who serve our wonderful brides and grooms across the country.

I want to share one of the many emails Jubilee and I have received since the Academy concluded on Tuesday; this is why it is all worth it!!!!!

Greetings and salutations my fabulous ladies of Wedding360!

After eleven years of planning, producing and designing ~ I feel ignited, excited and passionate about my industry again ~ thanks to your vision and your line-up of stellar professionals whom I have admired for many years now.

Your staff was so warm and real and I wanted to take them all home with me! Thank you for the inspiration I hope to visit with you all again very soon. My heart is full of gratitude. Please stay in touch.

Warmest wishes,

Debra

Debra Michelle Hiebèrt

Event Designer and Producer

Tres Fabu Event Planning and Design

I will be doing several posts in the weeks ahead, sharing both up front and behind the scenes highlights from the Academy for Planners + Designers; but for now, I am focusing on my fantastic wedding couples for 2010...lots of exciting things to plan using all that I learned as a participant in the Academy for Planners + Designers!

The Academy launches!

As many of you know, last year I launched Wedding 360LLC, to produce Educational Programs for engaged couples and wedding professionals. My partner Jubilee Lau and I held the second Wedding University January 31st, 2010, at the Four Seasons, Silicon Valley, and now we are launching our Inaugural Academy for Planners + Designers, March 14-16th, at the St. Regis San Francisco.

We are busily preparing to welcome speakers, planners, designers and florists from across the country, Mexico and Canada this Sunday, for an over-the-top Welcome Party in the St. Regis Terrace Tent; this party will be the kick off for 2 full days of stimulating classes, elegant social events, and fantastic networking opportunities. By the way, if you know of anyone who may be interested in attending the Academy, they can still register here.

Abby Larson who, along with her husband Tait, will be speaking at the Academy, wrote a blog post recently which I am including here. I am so busy finalizing event details, I really appreciate other bloggers putting into words what The Academy for Planners + Designers will be providing:

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2010/03/09/wedding-360-last-chance/

I have put months of hard work establishing this business, because I believe 100% in education, and in the value of helping engaged couples feel empowered as they plan their wedding, not overwhelmed by all they do not yet understand about the process.The Wedding University was geared to that educational need; now I am excited to help wedding designers, planners and floral designers become even better at what they can offer engaged couples, by learning from those who are the experts, and want to share their expertise.

It all goes back to my tag line for Jean Marks Weddings: "Beside the bride, to help as needed." Whatever I can do to help engaged couples, and the professionals who serve them, feel more comfortable and competent with the wedding planning process, I want to provide that help. Wedding 360 is another way for me to reach out in support to the wedding community I love so dearly.

Please stay tuned for photos and memories after the Academy is a "wrap", on March 17th, 2010!

Inside the Conservatory of Flowers

As a gardener, I never turn down a chance to see anything relating to plants, flowers, and gardening; therefore, an invitation this week, to sample some of

Global Gourmet's Spring delicacies, inside the historic Conservatory of Flowers, in San Francisco, was too perfect to even consider missing. My intern, Katie Moua was able to join me for the event, to experience the delicious food of one of the most popular caterers in San Francisco, and to meet and mingle with the amazing group of wedding professionals I work alongside all year.

Katie and I stop for a moment before entering the Global Gourmet party inside the Conservatory of Flowers. GG now qualifies as a 100% FULL service caterer; the staff member greeting us at the door, offered to come out and take our photo in front! I call that above and beyond service!

Speaking of interns, one of my recent interns, Monique Rodarte, now works full time for Global Gourmet, so she was there to welcome us, and escort us through the newly renovated, century old Conservatory of Flowers. It makes me really happy to see my interns become solidly a part of the wedding world, where they desired to work; when Alicia Slater, from Global Gourmet, emailed me looking for a new staff member, I was happy to recommend Monique, and according to all involved, it has been a perfect match!

Monique and I, as we enter the Conservatory of Flowers, remembering all the fun and hard work we shared as she assisted me in my 2009 wedding season. Now she is heading into her own wedding season as a vital part of the Global Gourmet catering sales team. Congratulations, Monique!

There are many wonderful things about having an intern, and especially competent ones like Monique and now Katie, but one of them is they are there to take pictures! Katie got a shot of this group of my friends, gathered beside the soup/salad bite bar (see photo of the soup and salad presentation below)

Dave Etheridge, A Video Reflection, Duncan Reyes, Duncan Reyes Events by Design, me with the soup/salad bites, Nelle of Zazoom Events, and Ann Saavedra, Dreamcatcher Events

The food and lounge area was set up in the tent, just a few steps outside the Conservatory; this tent is the perfect venue for a wedding and/or wedding reception for up to 150-180 guests. Got Light, Blueprint Studios, and Bluewater Party Rentals did a fantastic job of enhancing the welcoming, warm and modern feel of this area.

As always, at these wonderful wedding industry events, I was able to make new friends while enjoying reconnecting with my long term colleagues. I have been in touch with Amber, the owner of newly launched Sweet on Cake, in Napa, but finally getting to meet her was a special treat. I look forward to the personal cake tasting we will be setting up later in March, and the fun of getting to know her more in the months and years ahead.

Getting to know Amber as we toasted the great food at this Short Ribs station...seasoned perfectly, this all- American comfort food truly melted in your mouth!

My friend Rafael Campos, owner of Spiral Hand Floral and Event Design, sponsored the floral decor for the GG event; I love what he did with long Forsythia branches woven artistically into the arc which enhances the tent area.

Branches of the early Spring blooming Forsythia create texture for the lighted arc on one side of the tent; I was very impressed that Rafael incorporated a huge photo of the blooming forsythia into the buffet table provided by Blueprint Studios. Well done, Rafael and Blueprint!

Here is the soup/salad plate I mentioned. Wild Mushroom Soup in a tiny espresso cup, with small but intensely flavored spinach salad bites, were perfect for the cool SF evening. Katie cleverly took this photo with the plate positioned on the table where Rafael had added his Forsythia branch photo, under glass.

I encourage engaged couples, and anyone planning a special party, to consider the Conservatory of Flowers as your venue. I met the wonderful new Program Coordinator for the property, Morgan Davis. She will be happy to give you all the information you need to book your wedding or event at the newly renovated Conservatory of flowers. Morgan can be reached at 415.846.0538, or at mdavis@sfcof.org