Our new website has launched!

Whew....it's finally done. We have moved to our new name and website, Sharon Ivy Weddings and Events. Check it out and tell us what you think!

We're working on the new blog and a little something extra too! Stay tuned!!

It's Sweet Week: How to cut your wedding cake!

Cutting the wedding cake is one of my favorite times at the reception. After all, it puts us one step closer to being able to eat cake!

I have a few tips regarding this honored and sweet moment.

1. Speak with the photographer about the most appealing place for you to stand while taking photos of the cake cutting. Typically you will stand behind the cake to allow the best view of you and the cake.

2. Make sure to ask your DJ/Band leader to announce the cake cutting. Guests want to see the action and if they are in the middle of a conversation, sneaking off to the restroom, etc. they may miss the moment.

3. Discuss your cake feeding preference with your significant other. The groom may think cake smeared across your face sounds funny; however, you may think your couture gown could do without the cake crumbs.

4. Do you want to use your hands or use forks to feed one another? It seems like a simple question; however, everyone has an opinion!

5. Cut a small piece of cake from the back of the bottom layer and go for it!

Enjoy your cake cutting. Don't forget to wipe the crumbs off your mouth!

Just who is Sharon with KiSS Events?

Hey there world! Here is my very first video post. (shiver me timbers!!!)

I have been a bit aprehensive about recording myself and then putting it out there for the world. Well, I am trying to move forward and push myself out of my comfort zone.

So, meet me, Sharon, the owner of KiSS Events. Please excuse the random interference...not sure what that was! (Remember, I did say that this was my first video....ha!)

I look forward to posting more video blogs in the future! Stay tuned!!

KC Weddings Bridal Spectacular, July 2009

I know....this post is really late! But, better late than never!

We participated in the KC Weddings Bridal Spectacular on July 25th and had a blast! I had been pondering for quite some time about what do to for the booth. I wanted something that was fun, interactive and attention-grabbing. Well, after a few days of simmering, it came to me! We're named KiSS Events; why not have a kissing booth? So, we enlisted the help of our handyman....I am certain he didn't want to fix our deck that week anyway!!!...and he built me an old-fashioned KISSING BOOTH. And I must say, it was soooooooo cute!

So, I decided that people could take pictures in the kissing booth and have their picture taken as a little keepsake. I enlisted the help of a fellow exhibitor and AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHER, Stacey Schmitz. He had a photog on site to snap some funny moments and a few smooches too.

To make the booth "KiSS Events" worthy, we gathered a few moments to help inspire our guests. We had a Marilyn Monroe wig, rock star wig, feather boas, floral tiaras, and of course, lip glosses to make everyone's pucker "kiss-worthy"!

Here a few shots of the booth and some kisses! We had so much fun laughing and smiling with everyone and meeting the brides, grooms and their families.

Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to peruse the show too much, but we did see a few of our favorite vendors! Katrina from Papermill Designs stopped by to say "hello". Above and Beyond Catering had a show-stopping booth that could be seen across the exhibition center. They have some new pizzas on their menu. I could have eaten a whole pizza pie, it was so delicious!! We had a booth next to Brancatos Catering/All Seasons Tent & Rentals. They created a divine tent that had a lime green ceiling and sheer, gauzy white drapes framing the sides. It was taken to the "simply stylish" level with their place settings and florals. Oh, and everyone kept walking by with a sample of their pasta dish....let's just say I had more than one sample (but who was counting??)! Finally, I had a chance to say "Hi" to Shana from Shana Vaughn Designs. She had some lush garden arrangements that just made you feel good. She gave me a rose and hydrangea arrangement to take home! (she's soooo sweet!) I surprised my mom with the arrangement because she was a tremendous help in getting the booth and props ready. (thanks mom....love you!)

A few folks even asked if the booth was available for rental.....WHY CERTAINLY! Contact us to discuss your event.

Hugs and kisses!

Monday musings and developing your wedding timeline!

Hello Monday, February 22, 2010!



Before we get to the wedding goodness, I have to share.

I had a bad morning, so I wrote a mini rap. Keep in mind, I have no lyrical skills, but had to do something to make myself laugh! So, here goes....



Woke up late,

With a headache

Off to work

Awwww maaaaan....

I forgot my purse

No parking pass or any cash for gas

It's gonna be a long day, that's my hunch

Oh well, at least I've got my lunch



Now that you've chuckled at my corny sense of humor, let's get back to regularly scheduled programming.....



Since we're talking about running late, there is no time like the present to offer up some tips to keep your wedding day running smoothly.



1. Create a timeline or itinerary for the wedding party. Distribute the timeline the week before the wedding so that if anyone has questions or concerns you have time to adjust accordingly. You should also advise your wedding party, in detail, about your expectations.



2. Make sure to include the street addresses and phone numbers of all the important places they will need to be in the itinerary (i.e. the salon, ceremony site, reception site, rehearsal dinner venue, etc.) A lot of people use GPS devices, so make it easy for them to plug in the address and GO!



3. Allow extra time for getting ready. It goes without saying, we girls do a lot of stuff to get "wedding ready"! I always build in extra time (at least a 1/2 hour) for hair and makeup. If you are hiring a professional make-up artist or hair stylist, your maids or mothers won't have had a trial run with the professional. Or, there could be a case of "DIY- bad hair day" going on. So, having extra time to tweak make-up or hair styles is imperative. No one wants to look less than their best on the wedding day!



4. When it's time to depart for the ceremony, build in a little extra time in your itinerary. This isn't like running to the store where you grab your purse and keys and hit the road. You've got to make sure you have your dress, toiletries, rings, etc. all packed and arranged in the car, limo, etc. (no crushing the gown!). If all of the ladies are leaving together from one centralized location, then you have multiple purses, make-up bags, dresses, etc. to contend with.



5. Remember what I said about expectations? This is key for photographs. One of my brides last year was extremely worried about post-ceremony pictures taking too long. She had been in a wedding where the bridal party kept wandering away, resulting in chaos during formal pictures. My suggestion is to choose a central gathering location for post-ceremony pics and ask everyone to gather there immediately after the recessional. Moreover, remind them to remain in that area until all of the pictures are completed.



Are there any timing tips or concerns that you have? Please share!

Just a thought.....

Last night, I had a mini meltdown. I am not the most tech-savvy girl and yesterday, I hit "the wall" while trying to work with my computer and camera. You know "the wall" I am talking about. The one where you've tried and then re-tried, then asked for help, then thought about it some more, then came up with a new strategy and that didn't work either. So, last night I gave up! I turned off the camera and computer because NOTHING was going according to my "new and improved plan."

I worked on something else, totally unrelated, for the rest of the evening and went to sleep. I, unfortunately, suffer from the condition of "over analyzing." So, when I got up this morning and walked past the computer and camera, I got upset again. I left for work and dropped off my dry cleaning. When I got back into the car, I noticed this coupon for Krispy Kreme donuts that had been riding in my car for the month or so. At that moment, I did not have much extra time and I was nowhere near a Krispy Kreme shop. Something in my spirit told me that I needed to do something nice and unexpected for the people I work with, even though I really didn't feel chipper or in a very giving mood.

I took the 20 minute detour and wouldn't ya know, the HOT NOW light was on at the donut shop! Yeah! I got my 2 dozen original glazed and drifted down the highway. I announced that there were warm Krispy Kremes in the break room to my co-workers. Someone asked "What's the occasion?" I responded that "Jesus told me to be nice today." Someone else said that having that donut made her morning; it had been a little rough already. Another just popped her head into my office to say thanks.

I came to my desk and wrote this post. I didn't expect people to be so appreciative...they were just donuts. I am glad I listened when Jesus touched my heart. The lesson is quite simple: Give and go the extra step when you don't really feel like it. You may be surprised how the act touches others, but most importantly, how the act changes you.

Have a good one! I am going to get a donut. (I hope they are still warm!)

You're Engaged....Now what????

First, congratulations on your engagement! I know that you're beaming....looking at your finger constantly and just loving life! That's exactly how you're supposed to feel! hehe!


Now that you two are on the way to marital bliss, what should you do next? Well, here are a few tips to get you started.


1. Discuss your budget. That means talking to everyone who is contributing to the wedding fund. Also discuss contingency plans. What happens if someone loses their job or gets sick and cannot contribute? What will you do?



2. Talk about your dream wedding with your fiance. Will it be outdoors in a remote field, at the church where you grew up? Do you want a lounge/cocktail fete for the reception or a 5 course sit down dinner? Do you want it in the morning or evening? Get all of the ideas down on paper and come to some type of consensus....and remember it's two people getting married....not one!!



3. Make a guest list. This gives you an idea of how many people you've got to plan for. Yes, your parents get to invite their friends!


4. Select a wedding date and an alternate wedding date. What if your dream venue is booked on the first date? You want to have a back-up plan.


5. Select your bridal party (bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers, flower girl, etc.) You need to know how many people will be standing at the altar with you. Nothing is worse than cramming in a lot of people in a little bitty space! Plus, your bridal party needs to starting planning and budgeting for the big day.

6. Research and visit ceremony venues. Look at different types and locations. Pictures often can't tell the story of a place. Remember to consider the vicinity to lodging if you will have a lot of out of town guests. Also consider the distance to the reception and how easy it will be to navigate.

7. Research and visit reception venues. The same notes apply. But, also look at the restrooms. Are they adequate? Is there space to store items (you and your maids purses and make-up bags) so that you can keep them handy, but safe. Is there enough dressing space? Take a look at the catering kitchen and know what amenities are present.

8. Now, go dress shopping! I know how exciting it is to buy a dress, but you want to make sure that the dress fits the ceremony space and reception space that you and the hubbie-to-be hav chosen. What if you picked this long, grecian style dress just knowing that you're going to have a simple, outdoor wedding and then fell in love with a beautiful chapel and decided to go a little more formal. That dress doesn't fit the venue and may look a little out of place. To satisfy the need to shop, look at lots of magazines and The Knot.

9. Choose a photographer. Pay attention to each individuals' style. Are albums included? What about the rights to images? Do they offer those cute thank-you cards you adore?

10. Hire an officiant. You do want to get married....legally.....don't you?

Okay, this should get you started for now. Does anyone have any questions about what to do next? If so, leave or comment or email me at Sharon@kiss-events.com.

Happy Planning!

Making Things Happen 2010!

Wow....I just returned from Dallas meeting Lara Casey , the Southern Weddings Magazine team and Jeff Holt. Lara and her good friend Jeff launched The Making Things Happen 2010 tour across America designed to fire up those in the wedding planning industry. Let me just say that my ears are still smoking because I am fired up and excited about what is in store for KiSS Events.

I had the chance to meet a number of amazing vendors from the Dallas area and I am just as excited for what they will accomplish in 2010.

If you haven't checked out the Southern Weddings Mag blog, you simply must do so. They feature some of the most beautiful, inspiring and sweet weddings.

Thanks again Lara, Jeff, Emily and Katharine for a wonderful experience!!

We're in the Knot Magazine!

Woo hoo! I am featured in the latest Missouri/Kansas Knot Magazine, page 30 to be specific! Several months back, The Knot contacted planners, requesting tips about the KC area from our perspective. Well, I sent in 3 pages worth of ideas, tips, suggestions, etc. This past summer, I received a call advising me that the magazine was going to feature some of the tips from KiSS Events. I was in the lobby of a corporate building when I received the news.....have you ever tried to do your "happy, excited dance" in public??!!

....mmm, well, ...I think I maintained some composure. Check out our tips in the magazine, as well as the other features. As usual, it's chock full of goodness!

17 things to consider BEFORE hiring a wedding photographer

Guest blog post by Chris Cummins. Chris is the owner and chief photographer of Glow Imagery, a Kansas City wedding photography studio specializing in documentary wedding photography and contemporary portraits. In his spare time Chris loves reading, cooking and giving belly rubs to his beagle, Opal.

The wedding date is set! Already, the excitement is building for your big day. You want awesome wedding pictures. But the challenge feels daunting. You know your family shutterbug Uncle Ned is not who you had in mind. Chances are you have never hired a photographer before. So where do you start? You know you want to interview the candidates, but what do you ask them? Here are 17 great questions to ask photographers before booking.

1. Are you full-time? When did you start shooting full-time?

The truth is most wedding photography operations are very fly by night. The photographers are doing their photography on a part-time basis with negligible photography experience. Do you believe your once-in-a-lifetime event should be on-the-job training for your photographer? I didn't think so. A full-time photographer has already made the considerable life-long investment of their energy, time and money to create a valued and trusted service. Your wedding memories deserve your photographer's 100 percent commitment not a 20 percent commitment.

2. Why do you like to photograph weddings?

This question helps you to gauge who your photographer is as a person and artist. Take stock of the person's passion and energy. Does he/she seem enthusiastic or kind of flat? People who love what they do have a tendency to be very good at what they do and working with them is always more enjoyable and fun.

Also, knowing a little about what makes the person tick is a good way to feel out what kind of a personality "fit" you may share with the photographer. After all, you will be spending an entire day with your photographer, so do what you can to be sure the person you pick will be genuinely excited to be there and pleasant throughout that day.

3. Will you be the actual photographer to shoot our wedding? If not, who?

It's not uncommon for photographers and larger studios to have a network of shooters. If you learn the person you are talking to will not be the shooter then insist you talk to the person who will and also insist you see their personal portfolio.

4. What kind of input can we have on the shots? i.e. subject matter, shotlists and ideas from other wedding shots we liked?

A formals/posed groupings worksheet is sometimes necessary when planning when and how to get that part of your wedding completed and done in time. Lots of communication is key here. When working with a good wedding photographer, it is important when capturing the unique qualities and moments of your wedding to keep it open-ended for your photographer. A good photographer cannot produce every photo you can think of, but he/she can produce photos you never dreamed of.

5. (For self-described photojournalists) How much of your candid-looking work is posing and setting-up of shots or do you get shots as they happen without posing or reenactment?

"Wedding photojournalist" has become a buzzword which has lost its specific meaning with its surge in popularity among photographers. Often, the term "photojournalist" means candid-looking when used by photographers and studios to describe their own work. Often these photographers will set up and reenact a few things during your wedding day but rely heavily upon traditional portraiture for a lot of your photos... there is nothing wrong with this approach if you are comfortable with that. However a true wedding photojournalist has the talent and ability to anticipate, observe and "see" moments as they happen without the need to interfere with the natural flow of your wedding day.

6. Are the digital files available on CD/DVD? If so, are they high resolution?

This is a popular request by couples. The discs can vary widely in price. Also ask if there are any discounts applied to the CD/DVD after a certain time has passed from the wedding. For example, the photographer may offer the discs at half-price two years after the wedding.

7. What kind of improvements do you make to the files on the CD/DVD?

It is nice to have your pictures in hand to keep safe and make whatever prints you like. Keep in mind all digital images on the disc should be toned, adjusted and worked a little to make an adequate print. You should have some guarantee of the quality of pictures on the disc.

8. Do you have a list of references with contact info?

This is a rarely asked but very effective question. A real live person who has worked with a photographer will give you valuable, objective information.

9. Who do you carry liability insurance with?

Businesses that adhere to professional practices will deliver professional service and results to you. Chances are slim you will ever have to worry about insurance coverage. But accidents can and do happen. Would you let a roofing company put a new roof on your home that did not have liability insurance? How about a mechanic working on your car? I hope not.

10. What is the delivery time for the various products you offer?

It really shouldn't take half a year to receive an album, your proofs or any other products. Try to be timely with any input your photographer requires as far as albums, edits to help this process along.

11. With the albums, how does the design and picture selection process work? Are there any fees for changes we would like prior to the album's production?

You should have some input into important keepsakes of your wedding like an album. Some photographers charge extra for a certain number of changes to the albums they design for you prior to the printing and binding of any album. Make sure such fees are all clearly stated. Beware of time deadlines too, they are necessary to preventing production bottlenecks.

12. When will the proofs be ready? Is there a time limit for the online proofing galleries?

If working with a digital photographer, online proofing (when you first get to see your photos online) should be completed within a couple of weeks of your event. The time period of online availability for those galleries varies among photographers. Some post them for three months, others post for a full year. Check with your photographer.

13. What happens if the photographer is ill? What about back-up equipment?

Any successful, established professional studio should have a network of shooters available for emergency help. You should have a written assurance the substitute photographer will be a competent professional.

14. Should our event last longer than scheduled? Will the photographer stay, are there extra charges?

Most weddings will not exceed a six to eight hour time commitment from your photographer. If you think you will need more time, find out how your photographer handles extra hours.

15. What associations do you belong to?

Another useful way to gauge a photographer's qualifications and professional commitment.

16. Why should we hire you?

Again, this question is similar in spirit to Question 3. Your photographer's answer should communicate some excitement about the privilege to shoot your wedding.

17. May we see your second photographer's entire shoot from a wedding?

Wedding photography studios often promote themselves as two shooter "teams." They are often a husband and wife duo. They are usually not the 2-for-1 benefit they advertise. For the most part they are maybe one decent photographer and a person who is nothing more than a camera holder with very little qualifications or experience. Have you seen an entire take of both photographers? Insist on seeing the second photographers entire shoot.

Finding and hiring a photographer can be a big job and a little mysterious. The right questions can help you and your future spouse find the best photographer for you. Congratulations on your engagement!

Article written by Chris Cummins, a Kansas City wedding photographer.