A while back I stumbled upon this quote, and have loved it ever since.  It is simple but just enough - and it has quickly become a staple at every Always Planned event.  Enjoy!

May your troubles be less, and your blessings more, and nothing but happiness come through your door. - Irish Blessing

This is one of my FAVORITES!

You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.
Dr. Suess

Did I mention that Always Planned is the official ACE Weekly Party Planner?!?  Well we are.  We are also doing their 20th Anniversary Celebration.  WOW - 20 years! What an amazing accomplishment!  So first we say CONGRATULATIONS!!!! to ACE Weekly.  May you thrive another 20 years and another and another……

For their 20th Anniversary they wanted to start their series of parties off right.  And of course they choose Always Planned to do it up right.  So here are the details!

ACEWeekly.com Launch Party!

The fabulously creative guys over at Elevation Creative hosted our event and we could not have been happier with the location - and it happened to match our colors!  (Elevation Creative did the new AceWeekly.com website!)

Vendors

• Always Planned - Design and Coordination
• Howard Doyle Florists
• The Twisted Sifter
• Bib’s BBQ
• Purdon’s Rentals
• Barrel House Distillery

It was a fantastic evening of fun, food, fabulous cake and ACE.  Check out our photo gallery!

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OK, so you already know that I love to shop.  I really do- I LOVE shopping!  There is something about the buggy being so full, or purchasing so much that it takes 2-3 trips to the car!  EEKKK!!  Love-it!

For some time now I have adored a vintage shop down the road from my office.  Feather Your Nest is a wonderful place to kill an afternoon, redecorate your home or office and even find some pretty fabulous ideas for your upcoming dinner party, wedding or event.  Today, after networking (PURDONS!) and meetings (NEW INTERN!) I found myself at Feather Your Nest.

First off - I crack up at the name.  haha It is too cute!  Then when you walk inside its is a total love fest.  This boutique is filled with china (Love-it!), handpainted furniture, vintage jewelry, clothing, fabulous hats and gloves, tons of unique decor items and more.  I cannot even begin to list everything they offer.  You simply must go for yourself!

I love -it! So much that I am going to do a feature on how to incorporate Vintage into your wedding to create Vintage Couture looks.  So stay on the lookout for some great ideas, pictures and Always Planned creations all from Feather Your Nest.

How to Cope with What Makes You Mope;  It often helps to look on the bright side.  Make a teensy list of things that have not happened that really would be depressing if they had.

Miss Piggy

Always Planned hosted the June 2009 KY ABC Meeting and we had a fabulous turnout!

Lantern Centerpieces

Our meeting was held at Spindletop Hall from 11am-3pm.  This was my first event to be held at Spindletop and all I can say is WOW!  Of course it is stunningly georgous, but their service is equally impressive.  I highly suggest you look into Spindletop Hall for your next corporate event, gala, or wedding.  And as usual Always Planned can be there to make sure your event is even more fabulous!

OK on to the details.  Our Speaker was Saundra Hadley, with Planning… Forever Events.  She is such an amazing lady bursting with personality and knowledge.  The topic of the meeting was How to Close The Deal - Sales Methods for the Wedding Industry.  We had approx. 40 people in attendance and everyone from planners, florists, caterers, hotels, venues and even bakeries.  Saundra did a fantastic job reaching points with everyone and showing how everything she touched on affects our business.  Everyone in the industry simply MUST hear what she has to say. 

We also had some wonderful event sponsors!  A special THANK YOU goes out to each of you.

• Spindletop Hall
• Connie Duglin Linens
• Martine’s Pastries
• The Time Photography
• IDo Signature Events
• Melanie Mauer Photography
• The Twisted Sifter
• Get Married!
• Bridal Fair
• Cumberland Weddings
• Saundra Hadley, Planning… Forever Events
• Lasting Impressions
• Always Planned

Also be sure to check out our photo gallery from the event.  All photos by The Time Photography.

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I met Marisa several years ago and we have been best friends ever since.  She got married on my birthday and has been like the sister I never had!

1.  Where are you from/background? I was born in Louisville, Ky, but lived in Indiana, and my parents moved to Lexington when I was 2.
2.  What is your favorite …. place to shop, food, drink, etc..  I like to shop at New York & CO., Old Navy, & Walmart. I love to cook just about anything and could drink raspberry lemonade all day!
3.  When did you start with Always Planned?  Oct., 2008
4.  How did you meet Rayna?   I met Rayna in 2004 at a mutual work place/dungeon that drove us crazy for too many years!!
5.  What is your specialty at events/weddings?  I guess my specialty was bar tending??
6.  Favorite part of weddings?  My favorite part of a wedding is watching the bride go down the aisle. Feeding each other cake at the reception is also a fave.
7.  Favorite Wedding?  Anne & Chris’s wedding was beautiful.
8.  Best part of Team AP?  Hanging out with Rayna again, we used to see each other everyday.
9.  Where do you fit in in the Future of AP?  Hopefully as my kids get older I can be more involved with AP.

Love is a gift.  Don’t ask for a receipt.

Kermit the Frog

My days are filled with vendor meetings, sitting in front of the  computer, arranging glassware, dreaming up new ideas and designs and so on.  Most of the time I have Molly  by my side.  Molly is the best side-kick anyone could have!  If I am stressed from too many emails or staring at a computer too long, Molly is there to snuggle up to me, roll over on my computer, or bring me a toy to throw for her.  She always has the cutest look and she does the cutest things. I just wanted to share one of the little joys in my life.  ;)  Hope your having a great day!

Mallory just got married on May 23, 2009 and WOW!  You can imagine how much fun it was to plan her wedding.  She is so beautiful and her wedding day was perfect.  We will have pictures up very soon. 
1.  Where are you from/background: I grew up in the small town of Carlisle, KY. Nobody really knows where that is and you wouldn’t because it is very, very small. I don’t plan on ever moving back there, but I have definitely come to respect it and proud to say that is where I grew up.. My whole family is there, so I visit very frequently. I then moved to Morehead for four years while I went school and I absolutely love that town and miss it very much. After I graduated last May, I moved to Lexington and will now be moving to Louisville next month.
2.  What is your favorite …. place to shop, food, drink, etc..: I have been on a J. Crew kick here lately… I pretty much love all food. If I could eat all of the time I would, but my favorite meal is scalded lettuce, mashed potatoes, bacon, and cottage cheese with some sweet tea. I love good ol’ country cooking. My favorite drink is Cherry Coke, Dr. Pepper or Barque’s Red Cream Soda.
3.  When did you start with Always Planned: May 2008!! A whole year!!
4.  How did you meet Rayna: Well… one night it finally hit me that I was fixing to graduate and head out into the real world and needed to decide what I was going to do. I always had this idea that I wanted to be an event coordinator or wedding planner, so I googled wedding planners in Lexington, KY and up popped the Always Planned website. So, I started reading about Rayna and she had grew up in Mt. Sterling, not far from me.. Something about all of this gave me a good feeling, so I emailed her. She called me and told me I could do an internship and we planned to meet. We met, the interview lasted for over four hours, I hopped in her car and went to Garden Ridge and on a bridal consult, and she hired me…. as an intern. However, that didn’t last long. The next thing I knew I had my own wedding and business cards and have been around ever since. Now, she’s one of my best friends.
5.  What is your specialty at events/weddings: Sometimes, I am the realistic one of the bunch. I think about codes and laws and what we really CAN do compared to what we THINK we can do.
6.  Favorite part of weddings? The bride walking down the aisle and the look on the groom’s face. I cry every time.
7.  Most memorable wedding? My most memorable wedding was probably Megan and Dave’s… it was definitely a learning experience, but turned out beautifully.
8.  Best part of Team AP? We all are happy working together. Our job is fun, but gets very stressful, but we have such a great team that no matter how stressed we are, we get through it together and just laugh together about it… because as some points… all you can do is laugh.
9.  Where do you fit in in the Future of AP? I am here all the way. I hope to get the Louisville branch started as soon as I officially get up there in June and settled in and then hopefully move back to Lexington in a few years and continue to work taking over the world with Rayna and the whole gang.