Before the month ends, I must acknowledge a major milestone for Ebony Peoples Events & Design!  We officially celebrate 10 years of business this month!  Although we’re not celebrating with an exquisite party as I initially envisioned, I want to publicly thank all of my wonderful clients, professional partners, and family/friends who continue to support and uplift my brand!  I am truly grateful for each and every person who’s hired me to plan/design a wedding, milestone celebration, party, corporate event, etc!  It’s an honor to know that complete strangers trust me to produce some of the most important events of their life!  I am also thankful for each referral and recommendation that has been sent my way! 

I’ve been pretty quiet on my blog and social media lately but please know that I am working diligently to elevate my brand and the overall client experience!  Stay tuned!  Great things are in store! 

Cheers to 10 years!!

XOXO

“An Evening Under the Stars” in celebration of The Atlantan’s 10th Annual Charity & Social Datebook was a night to remember! The event honored some of the most philanthropic powerhouses in Atlanta including Tonneau Ansley, Hicham Azhari, Sid Barron of Bentley Atlanta, Brian Isbell Garcia, Dr. ChiChi Behane, Vikki Marrow of National Black Arts Festival, Sara Hanna, and Keisha Noel of KZ Noel.

I love when clients give me the creative freedom to plan and design! Beyond selecting the traditional colors, blue and silver, that represent the ten year palette, I wanted to ensure that we chose features and accents that would keep guests engaged. Throughout the evening guests enjoyed a photo-worthy framed ice sculpture, soothing sounds from Orchestra Noir, magical aerialists overhead, a live painting, beautiful floral decor, seaside lite bites, a starlight dance floor installation, and tunes from DJ Yvonne Monet!  Here’s a peek at a few event photos courtesy of Kim Evans Photography:

Thanks so much to all of the amazing Atlanta event professionals who made this night a success! For a peek at the Datebook’s highlight video and full vendor list, click here!

XOXO

Happy First Monday of December!  I can’t believe that 2017 is almost over!  Before the New Year arrives, I’d like to share a sweet wedding video from earlier this year!

Amber and Grafton both attended the University of Pennsylvania but they didn’t meet on campus!  Their paths crossed for the first time in Nassau, Bahamas (Grafton’s hometown) while Amber was on spring break and Grafton was home visiting with his track team!  They met at Bahama Boom (a popular hotspot) and sparked a sweet friendship turned romance back on campus!  Grafton proposed during a romantic walk in the Solidago Garden at the Travaasa Austin (resort) and the rest is history!

I had the honor of assisting Amber and Grafton with planning their Ashton Gardens Dallas wedding day!  Here’s a peek at their wedding film courtesy of Elle Films!

 

Amber and Grafton’s wedding day was truly a sweet celebration!  I wish the newlyweds, who just celebrated their 6 month anniversary, the absolute best in life and love!

XOXO

P.S. Feel free to take a peek at their beautiful wedding photos and read more about their wedding day here!

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I remember what it was like when I first started Ebony Peoples Events & Design.  I wasn’t quite sure where to begin and I often turned to more experienced industry professionals for insight and inspiration.  (After all, most universities don’t offer a degree in wedding planning!)  I’ve received quite a few inquiries from aspiring event planners asking to ‘pick my brain’ over coffee.  As a people-person (and yes, Peoples is my last name), I get excited about helping ambitious individuals who are passionate about investing in their dreams!  I invite you to join me for a one-on-one session where you will have an opportunity to ask questions, bounce ideas, and gain exclusive knowledge about growing a business in the wedding and event planning industry!

– What does Coffee & Conversation with Ebony Peoples include?

A session includes a one-on-one opportunity to ‘pick my brain’ for one hour on topics of your choice including (but not limited to) how I got started, pursuing your business full-time, branding, etc.

– Who would benefit from this session?

This opportunity is best for aspiring wedding and event planners and those who have been in business for a short amount of time.

– Where will the session take place?

Coffee & Conversation will take place at a local coffee shop!  Skype and FaceTime sessions are available as needed to those who live outside of the Dallas Metroplex.

– How much does it cost?

A one hour session is $150.  To secure your spot on the calendar, payment must be made in advance.

If you’re interested, please email me at info@ebonypeoples.com to secure your session!  I’d love to chat with you!

XOXO

It’s Wedding Wednesday and I’ve got some great news!  Ebony Peoples Events & Design has been nominated as Best Wedding Planner on The 2014 Dallas A-List!  This is so exciting and truly an honor!  When you have a moment, please vote for us by clicking the badge below:

Your support is greatly appreciated!  Voting ends on June 8, 2014 and the winner’s will be announce on June 9th!  Stay tuned for the results!

XOXO

Ebony Peoples Events & Design has been nominated for Best Wedding Planner on the Dallas A-List for the second year in a row!  I am super excited and this is truly an honor!

We came in 2nd place out of 69 nominees last year!  Please take a moment to vote for us again this year by clicking on the following link:

Ebony Peoples Events & Design on The Dallas A-List

I definitely appreciate all your votes and all of your continuous support!  I’ll be sure to keep you posted on the results!

XOXO

P.S. – Be sure to check out some of our fellow wedding professionals in other categories!

Hello Friends!  I hope your holiday season is off to a great start.  I have some good news!  Ebony Peoples Events & Design is a nominee for Best Wedding Planner on the Dallas A-List!  Woohoo!

We are so excited about this opportunity!  I would definitely appreciate your support and your vote.  Please vote for us by clicking on the following link:

Ebony Peoples Events & Design on the Dallas A-List

While you’re there, be sure to check out the amazing vendors in other categories as well!  Voting is open now through January 27th.  I’ll be sure to keep you posted once the results are released!  Thanks so much for your support!

XOXO

For those of you who love the beach, this post is for you!  I lived in Clearwater, Florida about 5 years ago.  While there, I had an opportunity to view some of the most GORGEOUS beach weddings on the Clearwater and St. Pete beaches!  Check out this ‘Seaside Escape’ wedding inspiration as I reminisce about my time spent at the beach…

Wedding Cake:  Flickr | Seashell Place Cards:  Rebecca Thuss | Pink Ceremony:  the Berry | Personalized Wedding Sparklers:  Etsy | Modern Ceremony:  Wedding Wire | Barefoot Sandal:  Etsy | Empire Waist Wedding Dress:  CharliesBridal.com | Starfish Chair Decor:  Pinterest | Beach Wedding Cookies:  Glorious Treats | Handprints:  From Portland to Peonies | Seashell Letter Monogram:  Etsy | Wedding Sign:  Style Me Pretty | Floral Hair Decor:  Rikmo | Seashell Centerpiece:  The Wedding Chicks

The hubby and I definitely need to visit Clearwater … or any other beautiful beach… soon!  What’s your fondest beach memorty?  I’d love to know!!

XOXO

Upon hiring an event planner, it’s important to make sure that your personalities mesh well together.  After all, your planner is your new best friend for the duration of the planning process, whether it’s 12 months for your wedding or 3 months for your company launch party.

With that being said, today starts the beginning of Fun Fact Friday!  Every Friday for the next few weeks I’ll be sharing a few random facts about myself.  As I get to know you throughout the planning stages, I’d like you to have a little background information about me as well!

Check out a snippet of an interview that I recently did with Doodle Dog Advertising:

Why did you start your business?

What started out as planning small events for family and close friends during college has grown into a dream career. I have always been the go-to person when it comes time to get ideas for the family wedding, a baby shower, or a friends birthday party. I consider myself to be organized and I always have my to-do list close by my side. I am a sucker for true love and the idea of marriage means so much more to me than just the wedding. With these things combined, wedding and event planning has always come natural to me. Everyday is an event to celebrate, whether it’s an afternoon tea with your girls or the day you marry your best friend. We only have one life to life… spend it doing what you love!

What is unique about your business?

Ironically, my maiden-name is Peoples and I am just that, the ultimate people-person! I have never met a stranger and I cherish the relationships that I build with my clients. My goal is to create one-of a kind, personalized weddings and events that truly embody the style and personality of my clients.

What is the process like to work with you?

The process usually begins with a phone call or email followed by an initial consultation over a yummy drink at Starbucks. If we’re a match made in Heaven, the planning and magic begins! Depending on the clients specific needs, we’ll be best friends for as long as it takes to make your dream event a reality! I also like to keep in touch with former clients on birthdays and anniversaries.

Tell us about your family.

I just celebrated my one-year anniversary with the love of my life on January 17, 2011. Jovan is my husband, my best friend, my everything… He has been in my corner cheering on Ebony Peoples Events & Design from the beginning. We don’t have any kids just yet but our dog, Papi, (a chihuahua-dachshund mix) is our practice. I am very close to my mom, grannies, brothers, and sisters back in Michigan. (You should see my sprint bill!) If I could fly back home every Saturday morning to have breakfast with my mom and granny, I would!

Do you have any pets? What are their names?

We have Papi… but he’s more like a child than a dog. We also have betta fish.

Where do you like to shop?

I love Macy’s, Target, Express, and BCBG… (I’m sure my husband has more to say on that!) My motto is: If Target doesn’t have it, nobody does!

Describe yourself and your style.

I love to combine the elegance and class of tradition with a modern, trendy edge. I’ve often described my business as Celine Dion meets Beyonce!

Where do you find inspiration?

EVERYWHERE! I can find inspiration in just about anything. I dream BIG so I usually keep a notepad close to the bed.

I hope you’ve enjoyed Part 1 of “Meet Ebony.”  If you’d like to know something about me, feel free to ask in the comments section and I’ll be sure to post the answers in next week’s segment!

Until next time,

XOXO