Antonia Christianson Events

Non-Profit Events: Good for MY Heart

Antonia — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 17:46:47 +0000

I often get asked why I love to plan weddings, and the answer is pretty easy. I always says that “I need to use my heart”. I left the corporate world many moons ago, because I felt like there wasn’t any heart in what I was doing. Yes, there were great conferences to plan, sales meetings, sponsorships to rock out, but, it was very cut and dry. And while that might sound so much easier than dealing with emotion… I truly love the part of my profession where I fall in love with my clients, and the part that they are in love too. It’s a bit fairy tale and dreamy (and maybe a smidge crazy on my part), but nonetheless, what I love!

Truthfully, I think heart is why I love planning non-profit events almost as much as weddings. With amazing non-profit fundraisers, I am using MY heart (rather than a couple in love) and the heart of hundreds of people involved with the non-profit at hand. In this case, we’re talking about 500 or so guests, Daniel’s Grace, and the 5th Annual Roast on the River.

I work on multiple events each year for Daniel’s Grace; the 757 Day of Giving, Bourbon Boots and Blues, the Annual Golf Tournament in Mississippi (the 2nd chapter location of DG) and of course, the “Roast”. I truly, just love it! My entire family is involved, from my Mother-in-law, to my husband, my kids, my best pals. It’s really a good for the soul organization, and I love seeing how our community (the community that raised me), rally’s together to give back to those families that need our funds most. Those families in our own backyard that are stricken with cancer, and need financial assistance to sustain their daily living.

So many coastal Virginians helps us throughout the year, but not everyone has the opportunity to attend our events… so I wanted to share some of the gorgeous images from the Dragon Studios team from the 2018 Roast. Literally, my favorite image from the entire Roast. It brings tears to my eyes each time I see it. This is one of the our amazing auctioneer supporters, showing her elation for one of our supporters bids.

Literally, my favorite image from the entire Roast. It brings tears to my eyes each time I see it. This is one of the our amazing auctioneer supporters, showing her elation for one of our supporters bids.

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Kaitlin and Nathan: The Right Bridal Mentality

Antonia — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 13:14:52 +0000

I’ve lost count on the number of events I’ve planned over the years (well more than a couple hundred, or even a few hundred) and I’ve honestly lost count of the “crazy stories” that I have to share from past client events too. I know that, because well, whenever people say “What’s the craziest wedding story you have?” I really honestly have to think about. Truly, really hard! But, I think that’s because in this crazy, stressful, fun, whatever it takes profession, you just learn to roll with the punches and nothing really seems crazy anymore. But, on the flip side of that coin, if someone were to ask me, what love story do you remember the most, or do you have clients that inspire you, I could easily name a handful. No problem!

I always say that my dream clients allow me to plan their weddings for them so that they can focus on their marriage. One of those clients really sticks out in my brain. First, Let’s back up MANY years. Maybe 6 or 8 years ago, a work colleague said to me “when my daughter Kaitlin gets married, you’re going to plan her wedding”. Of course, I smiled and said “Ok,” but I didn’t think anything of it. I remember the conversation, but I have that talk quite a bit (comes with the territory), but it doesn’t always come to fruition. Only, this time, it did. When Kaitlin got engaged, sure enough, her sweet mom called me and said “I told you, when the time came, you were planning the wedding, so we need to meet.” And she was no joke. As being a behind the wedding scenes person for years, she knew who to use, (and certainly who not to use), and we went into planning full swing. Only…this was different. Kaitlin gave me her ideas, her vision, and a few sparse (I’ll say very sparse and broad) notes, and her mom and I went with it. I truly got to plan her wedding, so that she could focus on her marriage. And, I, of course, loved it!

But here is the thing. Kaitlin and her mom chose a venue that was not really quite a venue yet. It was in the process of being renovated, it had good bones, but not much yet to offer. There was no space large enough to hold all of her guests for an inside ceremony were it to rain, or even dinner. We’d have to build tents, and work with the really old barn on property. All things not out of the norm, but just things that create a bit more work logistically. Kaitlin and her beloveds job had them move in the middle of planning, so, really her mom and I were on our own. We had a blast, we became really close, and I truly LOVED the process. I had the best time. And I tell you all of this, because, again, I had a client that was truly trusting in my work, my experience, and that I knew her vision. Her mom would say “if that’s what you think, that’s what we’ll do.” Or “if you think Kaitlin will love it, that’s what we’ll do.” So much of the wedding day look, was a surprise to Kaitlin, yet it wasn’t. She knew that we were working off of her original vision that she had shared with us, and details that she had shared throughout the process, but as her mom and I were the “Team on the ground,” she wasn’t fully sure how we were pulling everything together.

But here is the true story of the wedding day that inspired me. Why I am sharing them with you today. It rained. All day. Literally all day. That misty, gross, you just feel wet kind of rain, ALL DAY. Without even a blip on the radar. We had no idea it was going to be a wet disaster of a day, and yet, it wasn’t. Kaitlin was so full of grace, and kindness. When I asked her what she wanted to do, she said “I chose an outdoor venue, we are going to get married out doors,” and at that moment, I fell in love a little more! It was so inspiring, and truly a breath of fresh air to me, that she realized, no matter what was happening her and Nathan were still tying the knot. It didn’t matter the weather, rain or shine (just like life) they were going to be married. We did everything just as we had planned. A gorgeous ceremony, outside in front of the water… in the rain. And portraits, under a small under hang of the barn, while it rained. Dinner in a tent (Thankfully, no mushy wet food), and then we planned for dancing in the rain. (Which, honestly, would have been amazing). But, then without warning, the sky dried and the most amazing, and gorgeous dance party, in front of the barn, and under the stars began. It was like a dream.

I was reminded that there are some amazing couples out there that understand there is more to a wedding day than just perfect weather and perfect celebrations. There is real life, and real love. And, hopefully, no matter the weather, we keep moving forward.

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Bri and Austin: A Venue Transformation

Antonia — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 01:13:15 +0000

You know, one of the reasons that I love to travel so much, is not because I love the physical part of traveling. (ok, well, I do like going to new places too). But, as a planner, it’s really because I like stepping into my clients venues, using my eyes for the first time if you will. I LOVE, taking a venue that has been used a million times by other event professionals and making it new again. I’ve been able to do this to so many amazing places around the globe, but very rarely in my own back yard! But, this year, I had the opportunity to do this at a venue I’ve worked at more than a dozen times.

One of the reasons my clients Bri and Austin hired me, was because of my destination experience. They loved that I could capture a gorgeous destination vibe, in our own back yard, and that while they weren’t able to travel (due to some family members), they could still feel like they were in a gorgeous far off location. They chose the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center because of it’s floor to ceiling windows, wanted to use gorgeous luscious greens on their tables, and gorgeous flowy linens. And, well, we did just that! We created this unique cocooned feeling space, that truly felt intimate, and far away, while still being in Coastal Virginia, and in a relatively large space. A feat, that I’m very proud of!

Oh yeah, and, seriously. WHAT THE WHAT, how beautiful are these two? We love the mixture of Bri’s all white bridesmaid gowns that her sisters wore, Austin’s traditional military regalia for the wedding ceremony and BOTH of Bri’s bridal gowns. She certainly is a stunner.

I think one of my favorite details of the entire wedding was the Jasmine leis that my team passed out as all of their guests entered the reception. It gave such a gorgeous aroma off in the reception space, and of course, certainly helped with the destination feel. It was a favorite scent of Bri’s and such an awesome detail. There’s a picture of her mom dancing in her lei below, and I just LOVED this simple, yet impactful detail!

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The Method to our Madness; Why we request an initial meeting

Antonia — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 18:46:10 +0000

I really am proud of the relationships that I create with each client. Or should I say, with each couple that starts as a client, and ends as friends. For the most part, our clients are fantastic, and I really pride myself in getting to know the ins and outs of each event. Asking the random questions that might seem, well, random in the planning process but certainly will end up mattering on the wedding day or weekend. And it’s my want to love my profession daily, and the clients that I work with daily, that I have set up our standard for beginning the process with each and every potential new client.

Let’s just say, “there is a method to my madness!” No matter the industry, or the profession, there are definite standard practices. Things that you have been taught, or maybe have figured out, throughout your tenure in your profession that just seem to work, and stick. Or, that maybe your higher ups say “this is how we do things.” And while these might seem antiquated, old school, or a little weird, there is usually a “method” behind the standard practice. Have you noticed when you go to a Coach Store, each and every time you purchase an item, the attendant wraps the item ever so carefully, places your product in a bag, and walks around the counter to hand over your purchases. They do not “hand over the goods” with a table or sales wrap in between the purchaser and sales clerk, they walk around, and greet each and every client. At ACE, my team and I, kind of have our own “Coach Experience.” We don’t walk around a sales counter to hand you a bag, but we certainly add an extra step to break down the barrier between us.

We get contacted quite often with potential clients that have done the “research” on their end and want to cut to the chase and find out the price point to work with us; But, they haven’t spoken with us to find out if the services that we offer are what they are looking for, if they understand the difference in a coordinator vs. a planner (we are full service planners, all the way!…and I can explain the difference in another post later if you’d like), but they don’t know if they like us as people! They haven’t asked themselves the questions, do I feel a connection to ACE? Can I trust them? Can I relax and enjoy my day, weekend or event with Team ACE and Antonia at the helm? So many important questions, above and beyond a simple price.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand that” Money Makes the World Go ‘Round” like Liza Manelli sings, but I also understand the value in relationships, experience, and trust.

So how do I combat this little detail that is so very important to the team at Antonia Christianson Events? We always FIRST set up a face to face meeting, video chat or proper conference call. This is the first step to making sure that not only you as the client feels that we are an awesome fit for you, but also us as the planning team feels that each and every new client we take on are an awesome fit for us! Yes, it does go two ways and that is OK! That is better than ok! If we aren’t feeling fully connected to you as a potential new client, don’t feel that the services we offer are truly what you are looking for, or we just don’t honestly hit it off (which is ok too! We can’t expect to be the perfect planning team for each and every potential client) then why should either one of us, force ourselves to work throughout one of the most emotional times in a lifetime just because we asked you to sign on the dotted line without doing the research on our end.

We might be a bit old school, wanting to chat with you first, really laugh and get to know you…but in the end, this is our “Coach Experience” to ensure that you love not only your wedding or event day, but the entire process leading up to it.

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Nicole & Tyler: Westin Hotel Wedding, Virginia Beach

Antonia — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 20:24:28 +0000

When two amazing sisters get married in one year, it’s inevitable that the event team is going to get close to their family! Sisters Nicole and Caitlin are awesomely close-knit, have very similar taste, and even share a couple bridesmaids, yet it’s awesome how different and unique we have been able to make each of their wedding receptions. Both gorgeous gals have made a main focal point of their wedding their large Italian family but both events will still look unique to the wishes of each couple. Since, Caitlin and Paul’s wedding is coming up in a little less than two weeks, we thought now was the perfect time to re-live Nicole and Tylers gorgeous ballroom wedding from earlier this year. Let me first just say, the weather was awesome, there was an abundance of dancing, and laughter, lots of laughter. It was certainly my kind of wedding!

I think my favorite memory from Nicole and Tyler’s wedding day was the welcome toast from Nicole’s Father. As I said previously, family is always a priority with these sisters. So, when Mr. D welcomed all of the guests to raise the first glass of the evening to toast the newlyweds, he did so, with Tyler’s parents, and his own gorgeous bride right by his side. It was such a nice gesture to show the entire reception that together, they were all family. I knew from that moment on, the night was going to be a great one! And, it was!

Here’s a quick shot from Mr. D’s welcome and toast:

Planning and Design: Antonia Christianson Events

Floral Design: Palette of Petals

Venue: Westin Town Center

Photography/Cinematography: We Are The Mitchells

Lighting Design: Stage Right Lighting

Photo Booth Company: Boardwalk Entertainment

Stationery: Paper Dolls Design

Bridal Beauty: Darling and Dapper

Linens/Chairs: Waterford Event Rentals

Wedding Cake: Sugar Plum Bakery

Wedding Ceremony: Old Donation Episcopal Church

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Antonia Christianson Events: Destination Event Planner

Antonia — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 15:38:05 +0000

So, I’ve been asked the question quite a bit lately, why the change in business. And the truth is, it all comes down to love. I’ve made my career out of the business of love, working with couples and families as they celebrate love week after week. There truly is no better emotion to be around. However, it can be an emotional ride to say the least. And the truth is, the business isn’t truly changing. I’ve always taken pride in choosing clients that I felt were an amazing fit both personally and professionally for ACE. I’ve never been the planner or business owner that took on new clients because I wanted to hit a number goal I had written for myself, but rather, because I wanted to work with couples that understood my vision and how I chose to take on the planning process. I also really want to continue to love what I do. I want to work with clients in love, but I want to still love doing what I do. So, it really made sense, to pull back even more than I already had.

That meant this: The future of ACE is clear. I will focus on my children and my beloved first. For those are the beings that keep me in love with life. And I will focus on my clients a very close second. The way that I can do this, is by minimizing the number of clients I take every year, even more so than I had in years past, and truly give those handful of clients my full heart. I decided to take away service offerings that left a question in my clients eyes, and only offer full service planning. This was a very easy decision as I never want my clients to worry if something they are asking us to do was above and beyond their contracted services. This thought process really cleared my mind, and reinvigorated me for the future of my little planning firm that could.

Now, on for the destination part. I’ve always traveled for work. I love being able to think in a way that I don’t think in every day. Seeing a new venue for the first time, and being able to create a new vision for a space that is always styled or designed in a similar way week after week makes my planner brain tick. I love that. I love working in new locales and event professionals saying “why have I never thought of that in 15 years working here.” Being a fresh perspective is the Why of ACE Destinations.

Now, don’t be mistaken. Being a destination planner doesn’t mean that ACE is always traveling, we plan quite a few destination events right here in Coastal Virginia. But, it does mean that whether you are traveling to us, or we are traveling to you, we are available. How do they say it, have passport, will travel?

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Stefanie & Keith’s Justin Winery Wedding in California

Antonia — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 15:20:06 +0000

Stefanie & Keith had a stunning ceremony at the Chateau at JustInn and reception at the private tasting room, all at Justin Winery in California. This couple lives in New York and chose to get married in California where they had some family ties. Typically, this part of the country is in a drought in the early spring, but, it rained on their day! We called everywhere from Santa Barbara to San Francisco looking for tents to make sure that the rain plan would be executed beautifully, regardless of what the weather did the day of the event.

When I’m in the Central Coast of California, I LOVE to work with Laurel from Adornments, the florist for Stefanie and Keith’s wedding, and you can see from the work that she did with not only the bouquets and boutonnieres, but also with the gorgeous Chuppah as why she is always a favorite of mine! We also had the privilege of working with Alyson Magda, a photographer who we had worked with previously on a ten page spread in Destination I Do (as seen on our press page!). I think one of my favorite previously unmentioned details from this wedding was the way that the black bow on Stefanie’s bouquet matched the center of the black and white anenomes and the awesome black sash on her gown as well!

Vendors:

Planning: Antonia Christianson Events

Photography: Allyson Magda Photography

Floral Design and Linens: Adornments

Venue: Justin Winery

Bridal Gown: Vera Wang Bridal

Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Grooms Attire: Armani Collezioni from Nordstrom

Bridal Makeup: Rhonda Johnson

Bridesmaid Makeup: Faces A La Mode

Wedding Entertainment: Undercover Live

Cake: Christine’s Cake Creations

Stationery: Pretty Paper Designs

Event Lighting: Bill Gaines Audio

Bridal Breakfast: Paper Cake Events

Transportation: Lush Limousine Service (Transportation once at Justin)

Transportation: American Star Trailways

Restrooms: CCI

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Siri & Kyle’s Indian Wedding in Virginia Beach, VA

Antonia — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 15:10:40 +0000

Siri and Kyle live in Richmond, but got married in Siri’s hometown of Virginia Beach, at Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club. She wanted beautiful pops of color that you normally see in traditional Indian weddings, while mixing a modern, clean look with her decor. Siri and Kyle were able to get ready at Siri’s mother’s house, which created a more relaxed, comfortable environment for their first look. We were able to add some cool details to the event, like a square, clean Mandap that was created specifically by Isha Foss to pop against the blue water and the green grass on the grounds of Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club.

The couple were able to make sure that everyone was able to enjoy the ceremony, as the priest who was speaking in Sanskrit spoke, the bride’s cousin translated in English for the guests who may not have been as familiar with Indian tradition. There were some things that were important to Siri’s mom that we made sure to address and take care of, such as the elephant ice sculpture that was done by Ice Art with a marigold garland that was really impactful. The food being prepared properly was extraordinarily important to the family, so much so that Siri’s mother cooked and trained with the chef at Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club and brought her spices from the region of India that she is from. We added a subtle ombre liner to the ceiling of the tent with the help of Blue Steel Lighting, to keep the details subtle, but still impactful. The linens were textured and incredible, but not overpowering to the details of the day. The wedding cake was from a place called Kuba Kuba out of Richmond, because he proposed to her with that cake specifically – bringing personal details back into the reception with a sweet homage to their proposal story.

Vendors:

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club

Photography: Kaytee Lauren

Videography: East West Production

Wedding Planning: Antonia Christianson Events

Florals: Isha Foss Events

Officiant: Hindu Priest Rajagopal Thuppal

Wedding Dress Designer (Saree): Sahil

Wedding Dress Designer (Lehenga): holiCHIC

Headpiece (Tikka): Kyle’s Collection

Rings: Adolf Jewelers

Hair: Elle Style Studio (Welsy Mourino)

Makeup: Dhalia Edwards

Invitations: RSVP Stationery and Custom Illustrations by: Constantly Alexandra Design and Illustration

Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting Design

Catering: Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club

Ice Sculpture: Ice Art

Cake: Kuba Kuba

Music: Attraction

Favors: Brandito

Transportation: Coastal Limo

Accommodations: Virginia Beach Resort Hotel

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Baby Boy Kilgore’s Baby Shower at The Water Table in Virginia Beach

Antonia — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 14:34:41 +0000

Marcy Telfer with Chef by Design and I worked on putting together the perfect baby shower for Michelle Kilgore of Blue Steel Lighting. We came up with the theme, and Marcy was able to knock the menu out of the park and handled every aspect of catering (from presentation and cuisine). I worked with such a great team that was so excited for this miracle baby, that it was really a group effort for the flawless execution of this special shower. It was fantastic to be able to work with a group of vendors that was so excited that they could take it and run with it to do something so special for Michelle and Baby Kilgore.

Every event professional involved was able to bring a unique twist to this camping-inspired theme. We wanted her to feel feminine, even though she had a precious baby boy – so, Michelle had a soft flower crown and we were able to keep the color palette soft for this camping-inspired baby shower. Details from the shower ended up as part of the decor for the nursery and in their home as an homage to this fantastic day at The WaterTable. Ultimately, the beautiful photos from Echard Wheeler Photography and all these fantastic details ended up on Style Me Pretty as well.

Vendors Involved

Hosts: Antonia Christianson (Antonia Christianson Events) and Marcy Telfer (Chef by Design)

Planning/Design: Antonia Christianson Events

Catering: Chef by Design

Floral Design/Teepee Design/Wooden Camp Sign: Isha Foss Designs

Linens: Waterford Event Rentals

Venue: The Water Table

Cake: Patti Cakes, Inc

Stationery: RSVP Stationery

Photography: Echard Wheeler Photography

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The Real World: 6 Years Really?!

Antonia — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 18:36:19 +0000

Man! It sure is crazy to think, that 6 years ago today I took the huge leap of faith to leave the corporate world for good and focus solely on the company I had been building “on the side”. I laugh every time I say, “on the side” (and yes, I use air quotes when I say it too!) I had been pouring my heart and soul into Antonia Christianson Events for 2 and a half years when my beloved and I finally decided that the time was right…and I could focus where my heart truly was, with my clients. The truth is, I loathed going to my corporate job. I was good at it, and I had incredible friends there. I had the most amazing boss and mentor, really, an awe-inspiring support system, but the daily tasks at hand were not where my true calling was. Sure, I was doing events (amongst a million other things), and I was getting paid for them (you know, someone signing the pay check that wasn’t named Antonia Christianson), but there wasn’t any heart to what I was doing. I felt as though what I was hired for, wasn’t what I was doing daily, I could see that upper management was wishy washy, and I knew that my talents could be suited best elsewhere. But here is the truth…I learned more from my boss as a human being every day, than I ever did in my actual position. I find myself quoting her often, and trying to emulate her with my staff. I’m not sure that I would have had the courage at 28 to leave my safety net if it wasn’t without her support.

I thought I would share a few pieces of wisdom from the awesome Sheila Smith that I live by daily…and might be beneficial to anyone else managing themselves or a team. Running a company, or just trying push past contentment in their daily life.

1. Family is THE most important thing. Chosen, or blood. They are always the most important.

2. You give back, with all of your heart. (I couldn’t be more proud of the community that raised me. For goodness sake, I can see my elementary school from the parking lot of my Coastal Virginia studio. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t run into a friend of my moms, an old pal from high school, or a colleague that I’ve had the blessing of working with for the last 16 years in the event world. To me, giving back to Coastal Virginia, and the people here is one of my most loved hobbies. I really got involved when working with Sheila, and I make it a point to continue to give back daily.)

3. If it isn’t done today, it will be there tomorrow. Yes, I said it! (That doesn’t mean I don’t work crazy hours, but, the truth is, you prioritize what needs to be done immediately and you get it done! Everything else, you work on, and when you are ready to finish work for the day, you close up shop, and the next day when you are back to the grind, you pick up exactly where you left off. The task that was left unfinished the day before, becomes the first one done today. It’s that easy.)

4. You separate business and pleasure, and you are honest and open. (This is a hard pill to swallow, when you are in the business of love, and heart. But it is something that I try to remind myself daily, and Sheila was awesome at it. I always felt as though I was given honest feedback that would help me grow. Sometimes that meant, being told that my idea wasn’t great, or that I could put my efforts towards another project…it was never in a negative way, but in a way to help me flourish and grow with the betterment of the company in mind as well. This is a little harder in the social event world, when most companies are small businesses, run by individuals who put their heart on the line, daily. This is the key, to me; When i’m in the ACE studio I am at work. I am here to work, and to help my clients, to work as a team with awesome event professionals, and while I do create strong bonds and relationships, those are work relationships. I can see those same event professionals in the community, for dinner, at my home, at play dates with my children, and at that time, those relationships are for pleasure. I pride myself in the distinct line, and while it isn’t always easy, it is usually best for our clients, and for being seen as a professional, and a trusted voice of experience in my field.)

5. You support the growth of your team, even if it means, you are no longer their coach. (Throughout the years of owning Antonia Christianson Events, I have had the honor of getting to know some amazing women as members of Team ACE. With all things in life, things can’t stay the same forever. There have been a handful of team members that have left our staff to move to new areas, and take on new positions. Of course, I don’t love losing the team that stands beside me daily, but as a business owner I can understand the need to continue to grow. Sheila knew that I couldn’t stay in my role as Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator forever, and I understand that Stephanie and Alexis, for instance, couldn’t stay as lead coordinators on my team forever. It’s not fair for me to ask them to, and as a boss it makes my incredibly proud, that I can say their careers started with my company, and they are now incredibly successful in their chosen fields.)

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