Kirkbrides is now offering calligraphy services for all of your special needs including invitations, placecards and more. We offer two styles: romantic and old english. We are currently working on a section of our website to feature this, along with the extremely low pricing to match. Thanks to Janine and Holly, members of the Kirkbrides coordination team, for their fabulous talent in offering this hard to find service to brides!

Keep checking back on the website for more information!

I received such a nice note from one of my brides today after one of our vendor meetings, and wanted to share it here on my blog:

Valarie, I am so excited! I am pretty sure I will end up going with this photographer. I'll discuss with Joe, but I have a feeling that I will be happy with that choice. Thanks so much for everything so far, I am soooooooooooooo glad that Kim recommended you and that I was able to obtain your services. I can't imagine where I'd be in the process if I was doing this all on my own.... not to mention what my stress level would be!!!! I feel like it's going to be awesome, beautiful, fun and memorable and I can't wait. I'm also thrilled that it's not putting Joe and I into debt and that we can afford life after the wedding too. I might send you some things decoration wise that I like, but I think you get the vibe I'm going for. I'll let you know where I land with the bridesmaids dresses and I'll get a picture of mine for you, so you can have those to work off too. Yeah!!!!! Again, just want to say thanks for your efforts.

On November 8, Kirkbrides traveled to Cincinnati to help Megan and Scott hold their dream "Chicago-themed" wedding! Megan grew up in Cincinnati and now lives in Chicago with Scott. What a better theme for the Saturday night wedding than embracing the details of the city where they met!

Please also take note how much Megan looks like the live version of the bride in the Kirkbrides logo! She was absolutely stunning.

Fabulous photography by Mike Bresnen: www.mikebresnen.com

One of the weddings I am working on planning right now will be an "Old Glam" theme. It will be held in a gorgeous ballroom reminiscent of the 1940's. Instead of placing a favor at each place setting, we will have a photobooth set up outside in the lobby for guests to take pictures together and take home the traditional "photo strip". We will also use this as the guest book, so guests can sign their wishes to the bride and groom next to their picture. Think of how entertaining this guest book will be in 30 years!

Shutterbooth
http://shutterbooth.com/index.html

In November, I was contacted by a newspaper editor named Carl Feather, writing for a local publication called "The Shore" about unique wedding locations in the Northeast Ohio area. He had been calling around to local wedding planners. After speaking for a few minutes, he realized how much location research I actually do here in the area. He asked me to sit down for an in-person interview. The interview went great and we ended up doing a photo shoot at one of my favorite locations, he interviewed a past bride and groom of mine, he put a sub-article in about one of the most up and coming photography studios in Cleveland (who I work with regularly) and ended up with the cover and 6 pages about Kirkbrides. If you are interested in obtaining a hard copy of The Shore, I'm told it's sold in bookstores and Heinen's throughout the area. Special Thanks to Carl Feather and The Shore for featuring Kirkbrides in the January/February 2008 edition of the magazine!

I am now exploring a new avenue - bridal shows! I decided to start with a small one to be held at the Great Lakes Mall in Mentor, Ohio during the weekend of February 2-3, 2008. Please come visit me to talk about your wedding to be held in 2008 or 2009. Believe it or not, I am already booking for 2009 dates since it's been 2008, so call or visit me at the bridal show to start planning now! The best vendors get booked up fast!

Great Lakes Mall is conveniently located on the corner of Mentor Avenue and Plaza Boulevard in Mentor, Ohio.

More info on the show:
PMA's Spring 2008 Bridal Show at Great Lakes Mall
Saturday, February 2, and Sunday February 3, 2008
During Mall Hours: Saturday 10 am to 9 pm and Sunday 11 am to 6 pm
Great Lakes Mall
Mentor,Ohio
Dozens of exhibits on display. Free admission. Fashion shows at 2 pm each day. Register to win prizes. See the latest fashions and styles.
For more information call 440.572.4639

Morley Library, located in Painesville, Ohio, has a state of the art facility and is one of the most up to date libraries in the state. They have graciously asked me to put on a program that includes tips to plan a unique wedding on a budget, which is my specialty! The program will be held on Wednesday, February 20 at 7pm. Morley Library is located at 184 Phelps St., Painesville, Ohio 44077.

http://www.morleylibrary.org/programming.htm (scroll down to the middle of the screen)

I look forward to the success of this program and also being able to offer it at other libraries and city community centers around Northeast Ohio. Please contact me at 216.288.4325 if you would like to request one at your organization.

Our locations section has been updated to better reflect the diverse array of location choices we offer. Kirkbrides can help plan your wedding at any of these locations, however much more organization it requires than the typical banquet hall. Please visit the new section to see pictures of beautiful locations including theatres, art galleries, gardens & greenhouses, barns & farms, mansions, clubs and of course our premier private locations. Check back in the upcoming months when we add vineyards, museums and bed and breakfasts.

Happy Holidays!

Have you picked up your copy of the new issue of Weddings in Cleveland magazine? If so, you probably saw that Kirkbrides has two weddings featured in the Real Weddings section!



www.weddingsincleveland.com

Kirkbrides is moving into a new office!

We are now scheduling appointments at our office at 105 South State Street, Chardon, Ohio. Of course we'll still drive out to meetings elsewhere if it is inconvenient for couples to get to Chardon, but it is nice to have this new home. Now we are partnered with Josephine at Travel Encounters (http://www.travel-encounters.com) in order to bring our couples full service planning, including the honeymoon!

Although Josephine can plan your trip to anywhere you'd like to go, being an Italian-born, Italian speaking agent she specializes in Italy and all of Europe. I've posted some pictures from the Italian trip she planned for me!

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!