Sterling Buzz: Happy 8th to Sterling Engagements!!!

8 years ago today I made the decision to launch my company, the Sterling Engagements journey has been nothing short of extraordinary and today I feel incredibly humbled by it all.  We are so blessed to have 8 years of incredible events, memories and experiences with both our clients, colleagues and supporters.

Photo courtesy of Vinography

As some of you may know or were able to read last year, there's a very special story that goes alongside it all.  If you haven't had the opportunity, be sure to check out last year's post.  

2013 will be a very special year as we unveil our new brand.  Get ready for an exciting new look and new website very soon!  We've been working ferociously with Jennifer Ebert of Prim and Pixie and CANNOT WAIT to share it!!!  In the meantime, here's a sneak peek!

  

Sterling Buzz: Sterling Engagements Turns 7!

Today is such a special day here at the office for myself and our entire Sterling family.  So excuse the very personal post but I do hope you understand it and maybe enjoy the background history a little.

I'm ecstatic to share that today marks the official 7th anniversary for Sterling Engagements.  I couldn't be more proud and elated with how far we have come as a company.  I'm so grateful for our incredible dream team of vendors and resources, amazing production team, and of course our supportive and loyal clients.  As we continue to grow, I look forward to sharing many more anniversaries with you! 

This photo was taken on the closing night from a series of corporate events from last month

For those of you who don't know our story, I felt compelled to share it today on such a special day.  I founded Sterling Engagements in my townhouse bedroom in college on April 18th, 2005.  It was the 3-year anniversary after I lost my father.  Thus, today is a bittersweet day for me, 10 years since my father passed away and 7 years for Sterling Engagements.

I made the decision in March of that year to start my business and I remember driving around and doodling in class for weeks with what I was going to name my company.  My Dad's nickname was Sterling and everyone called him that, including himself, so early on I knew this would be part of the name.  I remember being a broken record for weeks on end, Sterling Weddings, Sterling Events,  Sterling Occasions, Sterling Fairytales, well no, not really that one...  The process really was exhausting though, but being the perfectionist that I was, I just kept going.

Finally on this day 7 years ago, April 18, 2005, I remember driving on my way to CSUN and it just came to me.  Sterling Engagements!  Aha, magic in the air, choir sings.  It was a special moment and I loved it instantly.  What I love about it most is its uniqueness.  I'd like to say my planning and design style is versatile. We do weddings, corporate events, social affairs and beyond.  Plus, every client is different thus no two events we produce are ever the same.  However, each event we work on is consistently special, personalized and handcrafted with an abundance of love.  Most importantly though, we always engage our clients, guests and even our production team.  That magnetic energy is what I continuously try to transcend with each and every event we work on from start to finish.  And with that... Sterling Engagements was born.     

This was from our very first wedding at The Hollywood Roosevelt on March 25th, 2006.  It was an Indian Wedding and Bride Firdose and Groom Amir were also our first out of state clients!

As I celebrate Sterling Engagements today a.k.a. the second love of my life (my husband comes first of course), I also am still mourning that 10 years ago today I unexpectedly said goodbye to my father.  However it truly is bittersweet as I've reached for the stars to live on his legacy. Honoring his name in my company, I really feel I've been blessed with nothing short of extraordinary opportunities.  So cheers to my father and cheers to an infinite number of more successful years of business to come!

Wedded Bliss: Alexandra + Jonathan

Today is a very special post for me as it's personal and we all know I'm not one to share personal details up on our Sterling Blog very often.  But today is the exception, as it's a special one near and dear to my heart and I'm super excited to share it with each of you!

A month ago today I married my best friend.  It was the most amazing fairytale inspired day and believe it or not I'm confident after experiencing it all as a "Bride" myself, I'm a better planner now for it.  I see things not just as the educated professional now, but also as the one that has to go through cutting the guest list, registering for gifts, going over budget and even the nerves on the big day!  It was a remarkable experience, a perfect day and I feel so lucky to share what lies ahead with my husband.  You may remember him from the few posts he wrote about being a wedding planner's groom. 

Anyway, so many of you are asking about the wedding and so today I decided to share one of my favorite photos with you from the big day by our amazing photographers, Callaway Gable Photography.  In addition, here's a preview from our day, our epic same day edit!  Created by one of the best of the best, Daniel Boswell of Imagique.

 Hope you enjoy this sneak peek as I've enjoyed sharing it with you.  So many of you have asked how it was to plan the wedding while planning everyone else's big day simultaneously.  I'll be honest, it was hard, really challenging as my clients and company are always a priority, it was extremely interesting to try and hold that up while also allowing time to plan our day.  Regardless, our wedding is now an amazing set of memories.  I'm so excited to be back, working with my clients, meet new ones and look forward to giving you and yours an extraordinary planning experience too!      

A Dodger Stadium Wedding: Save the Date!

Our dear friend Holly of Cakes and Kisses Wedding Photography is getting married and we are thrilled to assist her with all the extra special details she deserves as she steps away from her camera and becomes a bride!

Today we are sharing with you the incredible save the date for her super amazing Dodger Stadium Wedding! Camron from New Classic Films truly knocked this one out of the park! Check it out!



Holly is the sweetest, warmest, most friendly woman you could ever imagine. We are so happy for her as she embarks on this journey with her fiance Jeff! Stay tuned for more BIG Blue Wedding Details to come!

Sterling Buzz: Featured on Hostess with the Mostess Blog!

For weeks I've been jumping out of my seat to share with you details from my own engagement party. I constantly focus on creating the most perfect of events for each and everyone of our Sterling Engagement's clients, for the first time it was my turn and I'm delighted to have Hostess with the Mostess share some of the fabulous details with you.


Here are a few of my favorite images from the night thanks to my friend Ashleigh Taylor for capturing them!

And of course, such a mama's boy!

It was so fun to work on something so personal and special to my fiance and I. Hope you enjoyed it! It took an incredible team of some of my most favorite vendors to assemble such a special evening and I thank each one of them!

Vendor Love:
Bridal Party Definition Cards: Practically Perfect Design
Bridal Tote Bags: Pink Velvet Press
Candy Buffet/Event Styling/Floral Design: Sterling Engagements
Custom Linens and Chairs: Designer Specialty Linens
Custom Name and Candy Buffet Banners: SiennaJen
Dessert Buffet: Fantasy Frostings
Event Stationary: Affectionate Digitals
Groomsman Shooter Glasses: Distinct Glass Studio
Invitation: Mujka Chic
Love Crochet Towels: Patti’s Potpourri
Napkins: For your Party
Photography: Ashleigh Taylor Photography
Salads: Epicurean Events
Signature Plate: The Heads Creation
Taco Catering: El Tapatio
Tissue Poms: Prost to the Host
Tres Chic Vintage Mirror: Shabby McFabby
Wooden Signs: Family Attic Shoppe

For more of our L-O-V-E filled details, please visit the Hostess with the Mostess Blog.

Very Special New Series Coming To The Sterling Blog!

Happy Thursday! Today's a special post as I'm going personal with you which many of you know I don't do very often.

As most of you know, I myself got engaged last November. So far the planning has been amazing and a very special experience. I'm very lucky because I really do have the best Groom in the world for me, right by my side every step of the way.

Starting tomorrow, April 1st, 2011 which happens to be the 6-month mark until our day, my Groom will be sharing with you a little bit of what's happening behind the scenes with our planning. I felt it would be a unique perspective for our clients, prospective clients, friends & colleagues to be able to share in the experience of what it's like and has been like to be "A Wedding Planner's Groom".

Photo Courtesy of Ashleigh Taylor Photography

Stay tuned for fun stories, funny moments, inspiration and a sneak peek at what's to come on October 1st, 2011 as Jonathan and I say I do. This series will all be told by my favorite man in the world, my soon-to-be husband.

Thanks so much and can't wait to see your feedback, comments and more. Feel free to give him a warm welcome, comment and ask him what you want to know!