Real Wedding Feature: The Wedding Row Charlotte

We were so excited to have one of our weddings featured on The Wedding Row Charlotte . For those of you who are addicted to wedding blogs, this is a great one to have in your reader. This gorgeous blog features weddings, events and amazing vendors from The Queen City. It's a wonderful reminder that Charlotte is doing excellent things and producing some fabulous events. I am so appreciative to them for wanting feature some local talent!

If you can't get enough of The Wedding Row Charlotte, click on over to the original The Wedding Row {Charleston} and enjoy more wedding goodness.

Charlotte Wins DNC 2012! Woo hoo!!

As a Charlottean and an event planner, I am over the moon with the news that Charlotte, NC will be the host for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. We are so excited that the DNC chose The Queen City.

So... the Charlotte hospitality and events industry is ready to host you in our fabulous venues and our talented chefs are ready to serve you delicious food and SJB Weddings & Events is ready to plan any of your beautiful events.

Charlotte Wedding: Nisha + Rodd:: Now That's How You Start a New Year!

I absolutely love this image of Nisha and Rodd Massey!! SJB Weddings & Events had the pleasure of getting these two down the aisle on New Year's Day. Click here to view more images of this beautiful wedding, captured by the fabulous M. Clay Photography.

Your Love, Your Passion

People have often asked me how I got started with wedding planning and I always answer honestly...I just got started. There really wasn't a big thing that happened. There is one thing for sure I did fall in love with and that was planning things. I used to plan everything from parties to church events and my favorite was planning itineraries for vacations. :)

The love for weddings actually came much later after I actually completed my first few weddings. I was in love with the pretty things that went into weddings and the sentimental acts that weddings brought out in people. The creativity it sparked in brides to make their day special.

With the complexity of life I'm getting back to the things I love. It's hard when you own a business, you're always working. Working with the brides you have and then working to get more brides. Instead of constantly being on this treadmill, I am getting back to the love that sparked this passion that developed this company. Working is a lot more fun when you love what you do.

When did you fall in love with your passion?

Blog Rededication!

It has been forever since I have spent time with my beloved blog. This blog used to be a love of mine and it actually still is, I just have not had time to focus on it. This summer is going to be an interesting one with SJB Weddings & Events and The Bridal House in my life. So I am jumping back in and I'm blogging this because I have made a formal commitment to myself to keep this blog updated with fresh content that will assist brides and grooms everywhere as they plan their nuptials! But I'm not doing this on my own, my fabulous intern Megan who has been so wonderful this past month is going to be helping me with the posts. So if you read something you like, leave us comments we love reading them. Enjoy your summer!!

The Bridal Showcase Review :: Carolina Wedding Season Here We Come!

We had such a great time at The Bridal Showcase on Sunday January 24th. The setting up and breaking down, definitely got us ready for wedding season. Our booth was designed with three of my favorite bridal gowns at The Bridal House and a beautiful table dispaly with my favorite Chamelon chairs. Man, I love those chairs!!

It was great seeing all of my event industry friends in their element. Here are some images taken by my dear friend and fave photographer with her not-so-ordinary point and shoot camera, Tiona Fuller. Enjoy!







Flowers by Crawford & Company
Linen by Connie Duglin Linen
Fabulous Chameleon chairs, place settings and glassware by Classic Party Rentals
My lovely mini-books and fabulous pearl flyers by Three Little Birds

We Won: The Knot Best of Weddings 2010 + Wedding Wire's 2010 Brides Choice Award

Well hello 2010!

It's been awhile since I've blogged which has seriously been haunting me on a daily basis. Well I'm back and ready to keep you brides and grooms in the loop on everything that is fabulous in the world of weddings here in the Carolinas and abroad.



Before we get to all that I have to announce that we have been awarded with two great awards, The Knot's Best of Weddings 2010 for North Carolina (both of our companies were winners SJB Weddings & Events and The Bridal House) and Wedding Wire's Bride Choice Award 2010.



Thanks so much to all of our past clients that took time to vote and offer there comments on surveys so that we could win. I am elated and I ensure you that we will continue to give exemplary service to all of our current clients and future clients to come!

The Bridal House by SJB Weddings & Events: Charlotte, NC

I am so excited about the expansion of SJB Weddings & Events, LLC! Officially, beginning September 1st (today), we are now the new owners of The Bridal House, a bridal boutique located in North Charlotte. For the past few weeks this expansion has kept me extremely busy, stressed, excited all at that same time. We are still making adjustments to the websites and printing new business cards. So this is still a work in progress.

Adding this company to SJB Weddings & Events will allow us to offer our clients wedding planning services, bridal attire, bridesmaids attire and invitiations. So basically a full service experience. We will be meeting all of our new and exisiting clients at The Bridal House located at 8432 Old Statesville Road in Charlotte, NC.

The Bridal House caterers to the modern and stylish bride who may be looking for a more affordable gown to wear on their wedding day. The hours of operation are Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Appointments are encouraged but walk ins are always welcome. Currently the following collections are carried at The Bridal House: Jasmine, Mori Lee bridal and bridesmaids, Bonny, Bari Jay, After Six.

Here are some of my favorites from what is currently being offered at the boutique. Wish us luck on our new adventure!


Mori Lee


Bonny


Bonny


Mori Lee


Bari Jay


Mori Lee

Charlotte's Wedding Planners...yes we hang out!

Last week I had the pleasure to meet up, over a great meal by the way, with some of Charlotte's wedding planners. We had a fabulous time trading best business practices and horror stories. It was great to just be around other industry professionals who share the same common interest of producing beautiful weddings for the Charlotte area. I'm happy to be connected with such professional ladies! Here are a few images shot by the talented Tiona Fuller from our dinner at the Crepe Cellar in NODA.

My crepe was so delicious!


OK, I'm either saying something important or funny. I can't tell.

Brides and Grooms take back your Wedding Day!

In the past week or so I have been thinking a lot about childhood and remembering how great it was to just enjoy life as a child. I was amazed at how many things I could remember and that they were all such wonderful memories. Sometimes, I do not think we realize the importance of our memories.

Planning your wedding is such a great time, especially if you are in to the wedding planning, but it can also be a very stressful time. I'm not particulary speaking about the stress in balancing your life while planning your wedding, but the stress in making everyone happy. Sometimes if mom is writing the check she wants some say in the wedding. Now, let me be clear some say is good, but all the say is very bad.

This post is to empower you brides and grooms out there to stand up and have a say in your wedding day. You have to feel good and be happy about your wedding day. You want to remember you had your favorite song played or your favorite flowers. I think it is wonderful to compromise and sometimes it is very necessary, but remember these are your memories. Make sure you will be able to remember your day fondly.

Keep Your Guests Comfy

Literally almost two years ago I blogged about this product and I thought about it today, because of the #1 upcoming outdoor holiday everyone loves, the 4th of July. The Don't Bite Me Patch, offers protection from all types of bugs for 36 hours and it is DEET free and kid friendly. Do not allow bugs to deter you from having your event outdoors, just provide protection for your guests from the insects, they will thank you for it.

Planning an Eco-Friendly Wedding

I was so excited to see in this morning's issue of the Charlotte Observer an article featuring an SJB Weddings & Events wedding from this past Saturday. The article highlighted two of my favorite food vendors Tastemakers of Charlotte and Cloud 9 Confections and their use of local and organic foods to prepare what was a delectable menu for this Lake Norman wedding.

These days everyone is attempting to find ways to reduce their carbon footprint and a wedding should not be any different. There are so many ways that you can add a "green" flair to your event. None of which should effect how stylish and unique your event ends up. Remember, every little thing helps, when looking at the effect of our environment. Here are some things you can do to help reduce your events carbon footprint:

• This is an obvious one, but by reducing the amount of paper used for your event you will save so many trees. Do you really need wedding programs?
• Take a note from my bride and groom and look for caterers and cake designers that utilize local farmers and growers. It makes an amazing statement when you can say that 90% of your menu was from local farmers. Check your local farmers market for foods in your area.
  
• Skip on disposable anything. You want to use items that can be reused and recycled. So, go ahead and rent those linens, glasses, plates, tables and chairs or better yet use what you have already. You will find that a lot of linen companies are using a special process to clean their linens that do not negatively effect the environment.
• Use local flowers. Believe or not there are local flower growers in your area. Unfortunately, it may be tough to find them, but they are out there. You may have to be flexible with your selections, but it is possible to have a beautiful bouquet with local flowers. We also used stems off a cypress tree out of the brides own yard to help add some color to the tables.
  
• Believe it or not, but having your ceremony and reception in one location is an excellent way to reduce gas emissions. At least for a few hours you would have helped to reduce a few cars on the road.
  

You do not have to look at being eco-friendly as an elaborate project, but try to look at little ways you can help the environment without sacraficing the beautiful style of your event. You can do it. Trust me.

Here are a few amateur snapshots from this weekends event. I can't wait to get the professional pics!

The new addition to SJB Weddings & Events

I am so excited to announce the new addition to SJB Weddings & Events, Rita Cadena!!!!!!!! She will be our summer intern and she came on just in the nick of time to assist with our first wedding of the season. It is great to have someone to help me with the day to day operations of this company. Rita will be sharing her insight on wedding and event planning on her weekly posts and I'm sure we'll probably be getting a peek into her own wedding planning, she is a May 2010 bride.

Spring Break is here....finally!

Here's a clue of where we will be spending our break...





Yes, Disney World!! This is our first trip and we are so excited. Of course I have our entire trip planned. Not over planned, but just planned. Our office is closed through Friday April 17. Have a great week.

We will have our first green wedding when we return. I'm so excited!!!

Looking for an intern!

We have finally reached a stage where we need HELP! Trust me this is a great thing.

We are looking for an intern for this summer (May- September). This position will assist with events as well as special projects for SJB Weddings & Events. If you think you can be an asset to SJB Weddings & Events, please email your resume and cover letter to info{at}sjbweddingsandevents{dot}com. Please put SJB Weddings & Events Internship Program in the subject line. Please no phone calls!

You could be an intern for SJB Weddings & Events if you:

• have an interest in wedding planning and coordinating
  
• are available to work on the weekends.
  
• have a great attention to detail.
• have excellent customer service skills.
  

I look forward to reading your fabulous resumes!

SJB Weddings & Events| About

SJB Weddings & Events is a full service wedding and event planning company based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. We happily serve clients in North and South Carolina. Stylish, modern, sophisticated events are our specialty. Contact us if you are in need of professional assistance while planning your Carolina nuptials.

Phone Us:
1.888.308.7930

Email Us:
info{at}sjbweddingsandevents{dot}com

Real Weddings by SJB Weddings & Events

Wow, that's a pretty big picture of me! I am Shanika Jerger Butts, the principal consultant and owner of SJB Weddings & Events. Since October 2006 I have been planning weddings in the Charlotte, NC area. My favorite weddings are those that are made personal by the bride and groom by adding their own special touches to their event. A couple should be able to see themselves when they look back at their wedding, not what was in the latest wedding magazine. Adding more personal elements to weddings is my own little personal mission.

This blog is dedicated to giving couples practical advice on planning their weddings by educating and inspiring them along the way. So be prepared to see some of my favorite inspirations, beautiful wedding photography, food and fashion. I love to read your comments, so please don't be shy.

Photo taken by Critsey Rowe Photography