Websites and Friends

Okay, so there are a few topics to cover today, look at my temporary, but still very cool website HERE, make it a fave and I'll let you know when my real one is up.

I've included most, if not all what I want to put on my permanent site, which by the way will be www.socialeventdesign.com. This site has all the pertinent info, services, gallery, and link to this blog. I'm very excited and forward it to anyone you know~

In other news, I helped coordinate my good friend Jesse's wedding which took place on Friday, April 27. The ceremony was at the Unitarian Church on Archdale Street, the place is gorgeous, see below! I don't really like how I look in the below photo, but what are you gonna do??

"I was able to relax and enjoy my wedding day thanks to you. Having you there to attend to all the last minute details made what could have been astressful event into a blissful celebration. Thank you for your calm and organized assistance!" - Jesse Hendrix-Inman

Also, Jesse is featured on the Unveiled Bridal Designs site. They did a nice feature on Jesse and Jamez's wedding! Click HERE to see it, and P.S. I did her make up, she's so GLAMOROUS!

Peace out, next post will probably be about my latest party at the Gibbes on Thursday..."Le Bar" in the Museum Courtyard to celebrate the opening of the Rodin exhibition.

Beard Foundation Awards

My friend, Alicia Prescott, former Pastry Chef of Circa 1886 here in Charleston, sparked my interest in the James Beard Foundation. The non-profit foundation is the pre-eminent organization for preserving and nurturing America's culinary heritage and diversity. Like the Foodie Grammy's or Oscars... To recieve an award, or even a nomination, is very prestigious. The 20th Anniversary James Beard Foundation Awards took place on May 7, 2007 in New York and here is a look at their event. Chef Mike Lata of FIG was nominated for Best Chef Southeast, congratulations. Also, a couple of chefs from my former residence, New Orleans, were honored!

The theme was "Art of American Food" and the ceremony took place at Lincoln Center. There were over 1,600 attendees, can you imagine planning for that???

By the way, below is Alicia's write up on the James Beard Foundation website for an event she participated in, called History is Hot, in 2004. Alicia is now perfecting her high-altitude baking skills at the Broadmoor, a grand and historic hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"The Wentworth Mansion, built as a family home in 1886 by cotton magnate Francis Silas Rodgers, is an ornate showplace replete with Tiffany windows, Italian marble fireplaces, and a rooftop cupola that affords guests fabulous views of Charleston. We think the mansion’s sweetest feature is pastry chef Alicia Prescott. At 12, Prescott enrolled herself in a cake decorating class; years later, working with chef Rolf Weber at the Heritage Club in Gainesville, she recognized her aspirations lay in pastry. She attended Johnson & Wales, and worked at the Harbour Club of Charleston before joining Wentworth Mansion. Her desserts at the Wentworth’s award-winning Circa 1886 are Southern charmers that highlight locally prized ingredients—think butterscotch crêpe soufflé with applejack brandy sauce and crème fraîche–walnut ice cream, or a bittersweet chocolate–mint julep terrine with Maker’s Mark sponge cake, blood orange sherbet, and cocoa nib bonbons. "

Photos: WireImage, James Beard Foundation, BizBash

Life Decision

The last few months have been those of discovery and bravery for me. I just got married to a wonderful man, in a very beautiful wedding celebration, and now we are living the American dream in Charleston as home owners and housekeepers. I've never written in a journal or diary, but I have so many thoughts running through me lately that I need to express them. In the last couple months I have been growing increasingly anxious about my ambitions. I finally feel brave enough to venture out on my own and seize what's mine of the event planning market. In the next few months I will be developing my own business, Social Event Design, and hope to document the latest successes and mishaps of a day in the life of me. Some posts will be boring and pointless, but I hope others will capture what it's like for a woman in this day and age to begin selling herself and services for the betterment of mankind, and no, not prostitution, but Sarah Bradley, Event Planner - at your service. I hope to inspire, or at least spark curiosity.

I will be blogging about industry trends and events, as well as the process of building this entity from the ground up. Stay tuned.