Holiday & Hogs Weekend

Can you believe September is already here? Just a few more days until, in my mind, we kick off my favorite season...FALL! If you live in Northwest Arkansas you know the beauty of this season in our area, as we get to truly experience the changing of colors, crisp weather, and most importantly...Razorback Football.

To begin the season each year, my extended family has the Labor Day weekend designated as our family get-away to our lake house in Missouri. This has been a Bowers family tradition for over 30 years now, or so I am told.

That being said I will be out of the office and away from the phone & email beginning on Friday. I will be back to work Tuesday. With the Razorbacks' first home game of the season almost always falling on the Labor Day weekend, my immediate family makes the 2 and a half hour journey back to Call the Hogs for the game and then we turn around and head right back. So, I may bump into you in your Razorback Red. I appreciate your patience in returning emails and phone calls over the long weekend.

In the mean time, best wishes to our Razorbacks for a great start to their season. We are pumped to see what this new team, coach, and administration has in store for all of the fans. Cheer extra loud for our star QB, Casey, as he and his fiancee Felicia are a part of our J.Bailey family! Woo pig!

I Do! TV

A fun new resource for brides is I DO! TV through Life & Style Television. They have a wide array of videos that you can pull inspiration from, get tips from, and even see real weddings. Here is a great one on floral design:



Enjoy! Be sure to stop by lx.tv and click on I DO at the top to check out all of the videos.

And, on a side note...Sam...no new ideas from this! :)

Mark Your Calendars!

Hey there brides-to-be!

On Sunday, September 28th I will be participating in the Northwest Arkansas Bridal Fair hosted by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. This is the first year the Dem-Gazette will be showcasing in NWA. The event will be held at the gorgeous John Q. Hammons Convention Center from 12:30 PM - 5:30 PM, with a bridal fashion show at 4:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased in advance beginning August 25th, or you can pay the $5 admission fee at the door.



I know MANY of our area's great vendors will be participating (I've asked them myself!) and that you will find all kinds of great ideas, meet fabulous people, and walk away feeling all bride-y and dreamy...or completely exhausted! Watch in the upcoming weeks for my tips on surviving a bridal fair!

For more information on this NEW bridal event for NWA, click here!

(Photo from Dem Gazette Bridal Fair in LR)

Amanda & Cary Join the Family

In more good news, I would love to welcome Amanda & Cary to the J.Bailey family as well. They will be getting married February 28, 2009 in Bentonville. I am excited to begin the search for the perfect venue for their reception and bring Amanda's vision of a classy wedding to life! Congratulations to the bride & groom!

Welcome Roxi & Ryan

I am thrilled to welcome another couple to the J.Bailey family! Roxi & Ryan will be getting married June 6, 2009 in Fayetteville. It is going to be a great celebration for their closest friends & family. Congratulations R & R!

Leslie & Kirk...

Happy Monday!

I have a treat for you on the website...new images! Stop by the Galleries section at J.Bailey Occasions and check out Leslie & Kirk's pics. Special thanks to Jason Hudson for the images and the great job that he did showcasing the fun that everyone had that rainy day. Here's a teaser for you...

Men are from Mars...

I came across this video and loved it as a way to end the week with a smile. Enjoy!

Happy Anniversary!

I want to send out a very excited "Happy Anniversary" to two of my couples from August 2007! I can't believe you are already celebrating a year of marriage. It seems like your weddings were just a few months ago.

First, Kate & Will Richardson were married on August 4th last year. They are both now in graduate school in Texas. My favorite memory from their wedding is thinking about how much fun all of their guests had, despite a very hot Arkansas day. Their band rocked and the dance floor was PACKED with their friends, parents, and family. I got to observe from the 2nd floor of the Pratt Place Barn and realized that they were surrounded with so much love, support, and friendship. What a fun thing to see!

And, my other August '07 client was Josey & Nathan Wagner. They were married on August 25th so their anniversary is just a couple of weeks away. Their anniversary isn't the only thing on its way...they are welcoming a sweet baby girl in November!

Happy anniversary to all of you! What an honor to be able to think back on your exciting days and realize that I got to be a small part of it all. I hope that you are continually blessed through your marriages and that you are using them as a way to love and serve those around you.

An Adventurous Weekend

It's official! Leslie & Kirk are husband and wife, and it couldn't have been a sweeter day. Yes, it was an outdoor wedding on the first stormy day of the season, but it created a romantic, intimate setting for everyone to enjoy.

Thankfully, Leslie is a laid back, go with the flow kind of girl. AND, I am especially thankful for John from Festivities and his wife Shannon, my sweet hubby Mark, my great assistant Ki, and the amazing team at the Inn at Carnall Hall for pulling off the quick change when the rain started to pour. Without the teamwork it would've never happened.

The story I want to share, though, is one that one of the bridesmaids gave during her toast at the reception. We've all heard that rain is good luck, bad luck, etc... but here is the best one I've heard in a while. She mentioned how the rain may not have been the ideal situation that Leslie had pictured in her mind. Her husband said to her, "Jenny, those aren't raindrops, they're tears." She went on to tell him that it was a happy day and that they weren't tears. He corrected her and said "they are tears from guys & girls across the world who are crying today because Leslie & Kirk are off the market." I love it and will use this one many, many times I'm sure.

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Schafer! I hope you all have a wonderful honeymoon in Costa Rica! Thank you again for allowing us to be a part of your wedding day. Your families were just precious to work with and your friends were so much fun. I hope it is a day you will never forget! I know I won't...

A Fun Giveaway!!!

To everyone who has gotten married, been to a wedding, or is planning a wedding...this giveaway is for you!

Write us with your favorite wedding story from your wedding, a friend's wedding, or your planning process. It can be funny, moving, or just a really creative idea. Have you seen something so unique, funny, or sweet you just can't quit talking about it? We want to hear it!

Email us your stories to jenessa@jbaileyoccasions.com by Friday, August 15th and the winner will receive a great prize. Our favorite stories will be posted daily on the blog the following week.

We can't wait to hear what you have to say!

A Very Creative Save the Date

As I was browsing for ideas for Save the Dates for a few of my clients, I came across this unique and totally fun concept...the Movie Premier Poster.

That's right---you're the stars! Include your date, location, and time as if it were a movie premier event. So cool, and I think this works great for some of you brides out there who are not into the really wedding-y things that are available these days. Check it out! And of course, if you want to go all out you could do a real poster size, but you can always scale it down to a fun postcard size too. I'd love to find this in my mailbox!



I found this one here.

Blogs to come...and new couples!

Hi everyone!

It's been a very busy week and a half, and I actually haven't spent much time in the office at all. As a result, no new blogs...

I will be getting caught up in the office hopefully over the next few days, mixed in with consultations & the usual wedding work.

In the mean time, I am excited to welcome two new couples to the JBO Family! With a wedding quickly approaching in November, I have jumped right in to planning with Jamey & Mike. And, only 11 months away now is Felicia & Casey's wedding!

Thank you all for referring your friends & family. Your support means the world! Keep it up! :)