Simply Elegant Events | St Louis Wedding and Event Planner

I love working with candles and adding candlelight to a room can really add a huge effect without costing a ton of money however there are a couple things to consider when planning a centerpiece made out of candles.  # 1, make sure your venue allows it, # 2 if they do allow candles make sure that they won’t be too overpowering in a room.  Sometimes depending on your reception site candles can really put off a lot of heat.  If its 100 degrees outside you don’t want it to be 100 degrees inside due to your candles.  It would really be a shame to have to put out all of your candles because it was too hot in the room.  Just a small random yet informational thought for the day.

 Photo Credit: Clary Pfeiffer Photography

Sommer and I love working with Rich West.  He is a blast to work with and provides our clients with excellent service and of course fabulous flowers.  Check out why he loves doing what he does below: 

How long have you been in the wedding industry?
I have been in the floral industry for 24 years. 19 years of working in retail shops and then advancing to management of assorted local florist.  The past 5 years I have had my own biz of just specializing in Weddings and events.

 
How did you get started in this industry?
I grew up with the passion of flowers from my Grandmother, helping her with her large garden of various flowers that she grew.  As I got older I had an interest in art and being creative, with still the passion of flowers, I combined the art of the two and became a florist.

 
What do you love most about the wedding business?
The interaction with the Brides and seeing them smile on their “Special Day”, being able to create their vision they had in mind.  Also, I am most appreciative over the many heartfelt “Thank You” letters that I have received from numerous former Brides; it gives me the motivation & confidence to continue.

 
What is your most popular service or product?
Mostly anything floral related, from the brides, bridesmaid’s bouquets to the corsages & boutonnieres, ceremony & reception décor.

 
How do you describe your style?
I would describe my style as a timeless elegance.  I am a firm believer in creating bouquets that have a timeless look in photographs, so when you sit down with your children 20 years from now and look at your wedding photo’s, you don’t say what was I thinking.  This does not mean your bouquets can not still have a unique and different look, is all in the art of the execution to make your look and style have a timeless look.

 
What makes you unique?

Having the ability to listen to my Brides and almost reading their mind of the vision they are wanting me to create and give them the guidance to create that look with in reason.

 
What is your most favorite wedding tool and what could you not live without at a wedding?
Florist knife/ flower clippers. 

You can contact Rich at www.richwestdesigns.com.

On the hot but gorgeous August 23, 2008 Kristy and Jacob were married at Faith Lutheran Church. Kristy took Jacob’s breath away in her strapless gown as she walked down the aisle. After the ceremony guests lined the outside of the church as Kristy, Jacob and the wedding party all ran out to the trolley provided by Central States Trailways.  Clary Pfeiffer Photography captured every moment of the beautiful day as you can see in her amazing pictures below.  After the ceremony the reception was across the bridge in Columbia Illinois at Turner Hall. The room sparkled with candle centerpieces created by Jenny Seitz of Bloom; she also designed the gorgeous lily and calla lily bouquets as well. The room was transformed by white fabric and pink lighting set up by no other than Exclusive Events Inc. Thunder Creek got the party started along with the fun bridal party. Kristy was so much fun to work with and I wish her and Jacob all the best.  Congratulations Kristy and Jacob Sharp! —  Sommer

How long have you been in the wedding industry?
 
After graduating with my BS in Studio Art, I spent 4 years processing and putting albums together for weddings at a local studio. My official start to weddings for Clary Pfeiffer Photography came in April 2007.

 
How did you get started in this industry?

 
I started Clary Pfeiffer Photography with the intent to focus on children’s photography.  After many, many requests to photograph weddings I accepted my first; a bride needed last-minute engagement pictures, she called hoping I could have the proofs in time for her wedding because her family-friend photographer only did film. The bride was so pleased with the engagement session that she hired me to  do the wedding as well.

 
What do you love most about the wedding business?
 
Seeing people on the best day of their lives with their family and friends celebrating. What’s not to love?

 
What is your most popular service or product?
 
I think it is taking care of people in general. All of my products: albums, canvas’, disks and prints are the highest quality but nothing is better than caring for a bride and groom.

 
How do you describe your style?
 
Fun and real. I try to have a good time with everyone and photograph all the important, beautiful parts to each wedding, capturing real moments. Some couples are romantic, some fun, some classic and my job is to bring out the best of them.

 
What makes you unique?
 
Me! There is no one else out there like me:o)

 
What is your most favorite wedding tool and what could you not live without at a wedding?
 
Having a relationship with every couple; That is why I have an engagement session included with each wedding package so couples trust that come wedding day they will enjoy their time with me and have fabulous pictures of them looking amazing.

www.claryphoto.com

We know that we are behind on our wedding recaps.  And we hope to have them updated within the week but I just had to post a link to a wedding that we coordinated this past Saturday.  The very cool and very artistic Deanna Sammons from Springfield, Mo came up to St. Louis for Danielle and Kevin’s wedding.  I am copying from her until I can get a recap up and more picks.  I can’t want to show you all this one. 

http://www.deesammonsblog.blogspot.com/

We are busy working on the Moncheski-Ogle Wedding, Kronk-Sharp Wedding and Edie-Whitehurst Wedding.  My goal is to have them completed by Friday.  Thanks for your patience!   

Should you go out to the bars once the reception is complete?  This was a topic of conversation that came up with some of my friends this past weekend.  I was up in Chicago to do a little shopping and to hang out with my friends and as we were walking out of Grace O’Malleys a happy bride and groom walked in to a cheering crowd.  The bride was stunning in a simple gown that I said “she bought it at JCrew” and her groom looked sharp in his tux with his boutonnière still pinned and fresh on his lapel. I am not saying that this is a no-no.  I actually went out to Humphrey’s ( don’t laugh my husband and I graduated from SLU and my reception was right around the corner at The Coronado Ballroom)  after my wedding reception however I changed clothes.  I wanted to keep my dress as pristine as I could, no beer stains, no red wine (you know what can happen after midnight with wine and a tipsy girlfriend). Maybe they were only stopping in to say HI but I’d suggest as your wedding planner.  If you do decide to go out skip wearing the dress, you’ll be so much happier the next morning.  Your mom will be happy, your future daughter will be happy, I will be happy. 

 Photo Credit: J.Crew

Some of our clients ask for a sample centerpiece/bouquet to be made up prior to the wedding, usually to be presented at a final meeting with the florist.  Some are shocked when they are told that there will be a charge for that which to me is kind of surprising and should not be shocking.  To create a centerpiece the florist still has to order in bulk, for the most part.  It’s not like they are running over to Dierberg’s in the hopes that they can find the perfect shade of that pink rose you want in your centerpiece.  They still call their wholesaler to order the flowers that will be used and thus money is exchanged for those flowers.  Some florists will charge you at the time they give you the sample.  Others will wrap it into their final balance, however you see it don’t be put off or shocked, it happens all the time and is perfectly okay!

Photo Credit: Drew Newman Photography, courtesy of www.theknot.com

Sommer and I pride ourselves on working with many different vendors.  We have always said that we help find the best vendor for our clients, one that suites their personalities, budget, goals, vision, etc.  Since we feel strongly about meeting new vendors and really giving our clients a well rounded list of vendor options we do not have a preferred vendor list.  That is not to say that we don’t have a strong base of vendors that we go to. In our line of work we have to make sure that we are giving our clients 100% service so there are photographers-videographers-florists-bands-rental companies-caterers and venues that we may go to first because we know that we can depend on them. That being said, we are always open to new contacts because it only makes us more informed and better able to help our clients make a decision on who to book.  We will feature some of our ” Simply Elegant Events Team Members” as we like to call them and some vendors that we have just met, hopefully these posts will be informative for our readers. 

Here is a brief interview with Jeff from Switzer Film, one of our favorite videographers.  Jeff, Joe and Mark have a passion for filmmaking and you can tell that the moment they begin talking to you.  They also have a passion for having fun, that is pretty evident them moment you talk to them too.  We here at Simply Elegant Events are proud to work with them and appreciate their teamwork and their outstanding level of service.  They are at the top of their game!   

How long have you been in the wedding industry?
6 years

How did you get started in this industry?
Helping friends, friends told other people, those people told other people, and so on, and so onJ

What do you love most about the wedding business?
Our clients.

What is your most popular service or product?

Our same day edit highlight video, this is where we make a music video of your wedding day (morning preps, groom and guys getting ready, ceremony, etc) and then show it at the reception that night.

Please go to switzerfilm.com Blog to see samples.