New e-mail

Hello there! Just a heads up - my new e-mail will be courtney@swanksoirees.com

I will continue checking swanksoirees@gmail.com, but I think the latter sounds so much swankier - dont you think?

Check back soon for holiday party ideas and tips!

The Knot Colorado feature article!

Happy Monday Swank Bloggers!

I have some exciting news! I have been asked to write some hip, fresh and local wedding ideas for the Spring/Summer Knot Colorado magazine! We are thrilled to be a part of this great magazine, and I hope my tips will give brides a jumping off point for their weddings, and of course, I hope this will drive hordes of brides to Swank Soirees!

We love designing and planning weddings - each one is so unique and personal. My favorite part is when we are in the begining planning stages and all the ideas that the bride and groom have had separatley and togehter come out, and the fun in blending all these into one cohesive event . But I dont think that all weddings need to be one theme - I think it is so fun to have the ceremony in one style, and the reception in another - that way you celebrate two sides of your personality. Even separate color schemes can work out! All in all my style in wedding design is anything goes - we can take any theme and make it tasteful, funky, unique, traditional - you name it!

But how do we get to this point, where you have the ideas for the Brazilian Carnival ceremony and a downhome bluegrass reception? I have a wedding questionairre to help formulate your ideas, where a few simple questions can really help tap into your "wedding brain". And some "very techical" formulas can put us on the right track with budget, theme, location, vendors, colors - even all the parties leading up to the main event and all the way to undiscovered honeymoon locations!

A honeymoonin' happy couple!

Yes planning your wedding can be a blast, speak to your individual relationship, and make you and the planet feel happy. And that in turn makes me happy. And I love being happy!

With happiness and hula-hoops,

Courtney Hayes

Brynn's Miami Dance Club Celebration!

Good moring salacious soiree-ers!

I wanted to let you know about the fabulous event I designed and coordinated for my clients on Thursday Aug 13th. It was a kick off party for Brynn, who got acepted to tennis academy in Florida! She is 17 and heading there for an entire year. So of course we needed to have quite the bash to keep all her friends in Colorado remembering how fantastic she is!

So we decided on a Miami night club with tennis touches. Brynns fav color is pink, so our Miami colors of hot pink, lime green and crisp white fit right in with her!

We chose to have the event at Riverfront event center in Littleton for its sunken dance floor right in the middle of the space, complete with disco ball and full club-style lighting. DJ Savior Breath joined us as the entertainment for the evening, spinning and mashing up todays hottest hip hop and dance.

We had an old school photo booth, frozen mocktails and mini versions of junk food favorites - burgers, pizza and pigs in a blanket. And of course, organic cupcakes, and chocolate tennis rackets waiting at the door for guests to take home! And to make sure everything went smoothly, we had 2 fantastic security personnel helping out with the strict guest list and dress code.

Yes the fete was a smash. I loved working with Gayle, Rick and Brynn on this unforgettable event. Even though we only had 3 weeks to pull it off, no one got dramatic or stressy! Amazing!

I am looking forward to hearing updates on Brynn's advancement in the tennis world, and hopefully seeing her in action at one of her upcoming tennis matches in Denver! And of course, working with my new friends and clients on many more events in the future!

Until next time, an open heart and an open mind will get your further in life than an open check book!

Courtney Hayes

First Swank Soirees Blog - EVER!

Hello all my swanky friends - guess who just got their very own blog? Yes it is true, the slightly internet unsavy Courtney Hayes is now a blogging fool. You will be able to keep up with all the events that I have coordinated (complete with pictures), and I will let you know about parties and fundraisers that will be coming up in the future. So if you are a bride-to-be, keep checking back for the save the date for the first bridal bash - its sure to be a smash!

And please, dont hesitate to comment on a post, or ask me questions about wedding etiquite, hip new ideas, in-law counseling and sustainable honeymoon ideas! Because I love it all (and my friends and hubby think I am slightly nutty for that).

Until next time, remember that life is a series of celebrations, and there is nothing that a glass of organic sparkling wine cant fix!

your Swanky Co-hort in (celebratory) crime,

Courtney Hayes