Modern Elegance Wedding Showcase Design

We are all about texture and neutrals over here at Serendipitous Events. Our gal Rebecca designed a stunning setup for our winter showcase at The Atrium and we know you are going to be drooling over it (because let’s be honest, we all were too!)

This shoot used muted tones, layered textiles, faceted crystal glassware, organic floral design and stone elements to encapsulate an elegant and modern take on wedding design.

This design is perfect for a bride or couple that wants to stick to a neutral color palette but doesn’t necessarily want the contrast of greenery. This is also perfect if you love the “modern” look but want more than just black and white in your decor.

This design was a huge hit and we are obsessed!! We love how it came together and are so excited to have served as a source of inspiration to our bridal community. Huge shoutout, as always, to all of our vendor friends who helped make this showcase a success:

Designed by: Rebecca Carlyle, Serendipitous Events

Photography: Kadence Cruse Photography

Venue: The Atrium

Rentals: Prairie Lane Vintage Rentals and Ideal Tent and Event Rentals

Florals: The Flower Mill

Stationary: Brandi Goebel Design

Hair and Makeup: Angelique Verver, Platinum Imagination

Dress: Ellie Stone Bride

Neon Sign: Mariglow Neon

Models: Makenna Barness and Drew Reinschmidt

Girl Gang Galentine's Day Styled Shoot

Hey girl! What better way to have celebrated Galentine’s Day than with a girly photoshoot with a fun group of gals?! This was SUCH a fun shoot designed by Audra Wolverton and we honestly just wish every day was Galentine’s Day.

Obviously we had to incorporate all things pink into this shoot. Pink florals, pink dresses, pink velvet linens and even pink drinkware. This day was about all the girly aesthetic and our vendors absolutely rocked it. Oh and those cute charcuterie plates? Too cute for words.

““What’s Galentine’s Day? Oh, it’s only the best day of the year,””

— Leslie Knope

Not only did these images turn out STUNNING but this shoot was SO MUCH FUN. An afternoon filled with laughing, creativity and all the good vibes. We are so blessed with the best relationships in our industry and every day that we get to connect with them is truly the best.

Thank you to our fabulous vendor team for bringing this vision to life!

Designed by: Audra Wolverton, Serendipitous Events

Photography: Mary Novak, Prairie and Wild

Venue: Landscape Garden Centers

Florals: The Flower Mill

Rentals: Prairie Lane Vintage Rentals and Ideal Tent and Event Rentals

Charcuterie: Cultivated in Love

Makeup: Kristi Adams, Adams Artistry

Models: Mara Schaap, Monet Ernste and Sarah Westerman

Blue + Orange Vintage Inspired Styled Shoot

Color. It can be intimidating to take on a colorful palette for your wedding or event but let us be the ones to tell you it is SO WORTH IT . If you need some inspiration for a fun color combo to consider, look no further than this styled shoot. Our vendor team absolutely CRUSHED IT with this colorful blue and orange styled shoot!

We have been loving incorporating vintage elements into event design like this china from R Wine Bar and the colored glassware from Prairie Lane Vintage Rentals. Vintage doesn’t have to give “grandma” vibes! Consider mixing in small pops with your other modern elements like these to add in texture and variation.

Ah these florals. Flower Mill has done it again and made our floral loving hearts sing. When deciding on florals, don’t limit yourself to your color scheme. Notice how there are pops of blush and greenery and no blue to be seen! It’s okay to leave the color responsibility to the other elements like table linens, place settings and decor.

Hello beautiful :’) Marie and Marie provided this dress (and our lovely model!) and this is yet another slightly vintage inspired piece that we are pretty obsessed with.

BIG ole shoutout to our vendors who brought this shoot to life! We love working with ya :)

Vendors

Planner: Serendipitous Events, Rebecca Carlyle

Venue: The Atrium at Blue Haven

Photographer: MKaye Photography

Florals: The Flower Mill

Dress: Marie and Marie Bridal

Rentals: Prairie Lane Vintage Rentals

Linens + Chairs: Ideal Tent and Event Rentals

Stationary: Brandi Goebel of B.Invited

Desserts: Chef April Austen

China: R Wine Bar

Get To Know Your Planners - Casey Boerger

My name is Casey Boerger (bur-ger) and today is my golden birthday! I was born and raised in Watertown, South Dakota and spent the first 22 years of my life there. Eventually, upon graduating college, opportunity led me south on 1-29 and I ended up making Sioux Falls my home.

My journey with Serendipitous started in the summer of 2018 as an intern. I fell in love with the industry, people, and lifestyle and began planning on my own since September of that same year. In addition to helping coordinate weddings with Serendipitous Events, I work full time as the Events Coordinator for the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. It is very likely that you have or you will run into me somewhere downtown Sioux Falls being involved with something fun!

Truly, my favorite part of the coordinating process is getting to know the couple and their story. I am a hopeless romantic and could sit and listen to how every single person’s love story has unfolded. Don’t be surprised if it makes me tear up with joy 😊I am always so honored when someone reaches out for me to help with their big day. Knowing that they trust me and my opinions is very flattering and heartwarming.

When I am not knee deep in events, you can bet I am not sitting still. My coffee addiction might have something to do with this, but this life is meant to be spent with ones you love and enjoy surrounding yourself with. I am very close with my family and also have a very close knit group of friends. If I am not traveling to see them, we are most definitely traveling somewhere together for a new experience or a fun getaway. My favorite time spent out of office is in the mountains, at a sporting event, or singing my heart out at a concert. I am the friend that is always down for a new experience!

Cheers to the golden year!

XoXo – Casey

Boho / Western Styled Shoot

We’ve seen boho & we’ve seen western, but we’ve never thought of mixing the two together until now! Check out our latest & greatest design below. :)

Loghin & Rebecca were able to partner with the talented team at The Flower Mill & pull together this jaw dropping design with the help of a few of our favorite vendors!

Of course the focal point of this stunning set-up is the hanging installation, but we can’t help but to fall in love with the rattan chargers that we turned into a seating chart!

We love the mix of dried & real florals & the creative element of the decals on the wedding party’s chairs. We can’t wait to see more of these trendy colors & textures throughout this wedding season! Do you have two styles that you’d love to mix? Let us know, we’re always up for a creative challenge! :)

Vendors:

Photographer: Nicole Marie Photography

Florals: The Flower Mill

Rentals: Prairie Lane Vintage Rentals | Ideal Tent & Event Rentals

Stationary: b.invited

Venue: The Atrium

Bridal Gown: Marie & Marie Bridal

Editorial | Styled Shoot

To say I am excited to share this styled shoot with you all is a complete understatement! I’m not going to lie, I was a little hesitant on designing this photo shoot when Nicole with Nicole Marie Photography suggested an editorial style. I have never done anything editorial & didn’t even know where to start. I spent days looking for inspiration & repeatedly saved, deleted, saved, deleted, over & over again until I was finally satisfied. I can’t thank Loghin & Jessica enough for answering what seemed to be hundreds of texts & photos sent, Amy with Ideal Tent & Event Rentals for being so patient with me as I changed my mind more than once, Nicole with Nicole Marie Photography for pushing me outside of my comfort zone, & The Flower Mill team for ALWAYS making my vision come to life (seriously, this crew is a godsend.)

The team of professionals from Uptown Events gathered at West Sioux Studios to create some Monday morning magic. From the wildflower arrangements, to the whimsical draping, to the beautifully executed model this has to be one of my favorite shoots to date! Check out the shoot & the credited vendors below!

Dream Team Vendors:

Location: West Sioux Studios

Planner: Rebecca Carlyle | Serendipitous Events

Photographer: Nicole Marie Photography

VIdeographer: Refractor Films

Model: Amanda Nelson

Hair & Makeup: Platinum Imagination Hair & Makeup

Bridal Gowns: Marie & Marie Bridal

Florals: The Flower Mill

Rentals: Ideal Tent & Event Rentals

Stationary: B.invited

Cake: The Cake Lady

As always, thank you for following along! We can’t wait to share more beauty this year has to hold with you all.

Love,

Rebecca Carlyle

Lead Event Planner, Serendipitous Events

Get To Know Your Planners - Loghin Welch

Hey friends! It’s Loghin here :) today I turn 27- where the hell does time go?! I swear I was just in college living my best life but here we are, another year of adulting & “living the dream”.

I am so happy you stopped to say hi!! Every year on my birthday I think back on the past year and I can honestly say life just keeps getting better. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would love what I do this much. I’m the lucky one to work with the best clients & vendors. I cannot believe it’s been 7 years of building dreams.

I’m so blessed by the best friends and family who I love dearly. They support my crazy ideas & lifestyle (most of the time-LOL).

As most of you know- I love hustling hard during season, and love spending my time during off-season jet setting to the warmth. I love Sioux Falls & South Dakota so much. I couldn’t imagine a better community to build businesses & create relationships in. I always say I live in the great state of SD where I love coming home to, but grateful to be able to travel often, too!

Serendipitous has grown so so much since the day I started and it’s been SO fun to be apart of the process. As Jessica spent more & more time with her babies, she trusted me to take the wheel. I’m so grateful for her and all of our planners now. It’s so fun to work with people you love & want to see succeed in everything they do.

When I’m not working on events during the week you can find me at The Factory downtown Sioux Falls doing Brazilian sugar waxes. When I’m not working you bet you can find me at home with my dogs, cooking for my friends, shopping or on a boat somewhere. I live for relaxing at the river and taking in the countryside.

Thanks for stopping by! Excited to chat about your next event and work with you! Cheers to 27! I’m excited to see what this year brings!

XOXO,

Loghin Welch

Get To Know Your Planners - Jessica Kerher Ligtenberg

Hello, I am so glad you are here.  I am Jessica the founder of Serendipitous Events and now the co -owner.  I am completely honored and so proud to have been in this industry for almost 20 years ( I really did get my start in high school).  I was working for a national magazine that was locally based and loved it but the magazine was taking off in other markets and the teams in those areas were on top of things, I was considering a move when the lead planner of one of my beloved conferences announced her retirement, I jumped on the opportunity with her blessing and man did I soar. 

You guys I literally jumped in head first and never looked back.  So many people told me “good luck making it two years”. You better believe  I drank some champagne on the two year anniversary of Serendipitous Events.  I got my start in fundraising and thought I would never do weddings.  Here we are almost 13 years later with a massive wedding presence.  Weddings have become our jam! I say  our because I wouldn't be where I am without so many amazing interns and employees. There is one person who really took my vision and created something so beautiful, Loghin welch.  She is a boss babe with grit and heart.  She allowed me to carry this business while creating and raising a family.  I have always found it important to stay home with my kiddos for as much and as long as I possibly can and our team allows me the flexibility to do just that.

My husband Nathan and I have 3 wildly adorable and sometimes spicy children.  Nash is seven, Nellie is five and Nixon is three.  We moved our family to Canistota 5 years ago so my husband could spend more time at home and less time commuting.  Nathan grew up in Canistota and is a chiropractor at the famous Ortman Clinic. The town and the clinic have a rich history in which we are so blessed to be a part of.  I am the president of our City council, the vice president of our Lions Club chapter and a part of many other organizations in town.  I love serving my community.  

My all time favorite thing about event planning is the service we provide to our clients.  I truly enjoy helping people whether it be choosing linens, straightening a dress for a bride before she walks down the aisle or hugging a woman who has lost her spouse and wants to honor him.  I find comfort in what others may call chaos and tremendous desire to create lasting moments.  

When I am not working you can find me cheering on our local teams in whatever sport is in season, baking some wildly fun treat to fit the theme at school or serving on a committee. We also love to travel.  We love wine and food and so you can usually find us on a patio with friends.  I look forward to the future of each and every one of our team members and Serendipitous Events as a whole.  

Igloo | Styled Shoot

Snowy & -5, or whatever Joe Nichols sang. ;)

With the below freezing temps & snow, it’s only appropriate to share this beauty of a photo shoot we had the pleasure of creating with some of the local best!

It’s not every day you see igloos in South Dakota, but when you do you take full advantage of it! Thank you to our friends at Fernson Downtown Sioux Falls for allowing us to use their space to create some winter wonderland magic!

To tie the snowy feel we paired a light blue linen & acrylic pieces from Ideal Tent & Event Rentals & some white florals from Thistle Dot Floral Design to pull everything together.

As cool as this photo shoot was, Kaylee & Emily sure did warm things up with their stunning gowns by Marie & Marie Bridal & their glowing looks from Megan Bertsch Beauty (make-up) & Rebecca Link with Cheveux Salon (hair).

Of course, we can’t forget about the beautifully created cake designed by Lauren with Bakologie to finish our look!

Thank you to the vendors who participated in this cool (seriously, it was freezing) styled shoot!

Vendors:

Planner: Rebecca Carlyle

Photographer: Bethany Melvin Photography

Videographer: Cole Cruse Films

Location: Fernson Downtown

Florist: Thistle Dot Floral Design

Rentals: Ideal Tent & Event Rentals & Prairie Lane Vintage Rentals

Cake: Bakologie

HMU: Megan Bertsch Beauty & Rebecca Link

Gowns & Accessories: Marie & Marie Bridal

Get To Know Your Planners — Sara Waldner

Hi there!

My name is Sara Waldner and as of today I am officially 24 years old (Kobe year). I was born and raised here in South Dakota - I grew up in Hartford, graduated from Augustana University in 2019 and continued to stay in Sioux Falls after graduation. In addition to event planning, I work full time at Lawrence & Schiller where I help plan marketing strategies and see them to completion for the best clients.

I interned for Serendipitous in 2018 and have been planning on my own since September that year. I’ve been so blessed to meet so many great people through this work, including my fellow planners at Serendipituous. The relationships I’ve been able to build with them and my brides and families are irreplaceable. It’s so weird when the wedding happens and you no longer have daily phone calls with your bride or mother of the bride! The trust and bond you build is one of the best parts of the job.

My favorite part of event planning is being able to take the stress off of the couple and their families. Knowing you have someone in your court that is only looking out for your best interest allows so much peace of mind on such big days.

When I’m not working, I’m surrounding myself with the people I love. I have a close family and we love to get together on the weekends and spend time together. I also have a very close knit friend group. We all love to travel and experience new parts of the world. Some of my most recent vacations include New Orleans and Denver, both girls trips with my favorite gals.

My birthday being the day before Valentine’s Day, I’ve always been a huge fan of the holiday. I love love and now that you know a little about me, I would love to hear about YOUR love story.

Xoxo,

Sara

Mr. & Mrs. Mitch & Ashley Patrick

May 11, 2018

This beautiful summer day began at the Blue Haven Barn where Ashley and her bridesmaids had their hair and makeup done by Sabreena with Nirvana Studio. The beautiful flower arrangements and bouquets were done by Josephine's that completed the simplistic beauty of the day.

After getting ready for the day, Ashley and Mitch had their first look which Maddie Peschong was there to capture. The couple's videography for the day was performed by a family friend, Video by Morgan.

Next came the ceremony where Ashley and Mitch exchanged vows and a few laughs. After becoming husband and wife, guests were eager to kick off the reception! Cleaver's Catering provided the dinner and delicious macaroons for the dessert table, and The Cake Lady made the couple's beautiful cake.

Chris Miller, a friend of the couple, played live music during the social hour, and Mark Beard provided his DJ skills for the evening that kept the party going! Guests enjoyed the dance until the night was concluded with a sparkler sendoff and fireworks!

Mitch and Ashley, thank you so much for letting us be a part of this day! We sure thought it went off with a bang. :) Wishing you love and happiness for all your years to come!

XOXO,Rebecca Carlyle 

Get To Know Your Planners - Rebecca Carlyle

Welcome to our first blog post of 2021!

We hope you all had an amazing holiday & indulged in all of your favorite things with your favorite people! We are SO looking forward to the new year & all 2021 has to offer! With that being said, we’d love to introduce you to the planners behind all of the pretty little things you see at Serendipitous Events!

Get to know our planner, Rebecca Carlyle!

Hello everyone! 

I’m Rebecca Carlyle & I am 24 years old today (Happy Birthday to me!) I am a wife of almost 3 years to an amazing husband, Christian, who is a correctional officer at the South Dakota State Penitentiary & I’m a momma to our sweet baby girl, Braelynn Rose who is 17 months old! I also have two dogs, Daisy & Duke, who definitely keep our life entertaining! 

I have been with Serendipitous Events since 2017 & have LOVED every single day of it! I am the girl behind most of our social media & blog posts & styling some of our favorite styled shoots! I have had great mentors along the way that have pushed me to become the event planner I am today. (Thank you Loghin & Jess!)

My favorite part of event planning is hands down weddings! I LOVE love! It never fails that I tear up throughout speeches or the father / daughter dance or the first look between you & your happily ever after. Weddings are SO incredibly special & I am so honored to be such a small part in your big day! I also LOVE ladies night events. This is something new that our team has started this past year & they are always so much fun & allow us to be creative & do what we do best, bring everyone together & throw a party!

Outside of Serendipitous Events, I co-own a boutique in my hometown of Rock Rapids, IA with my mom, Stephanie Bickerstaff, called Standout Boutique. I am SO passionate about helping women of all ages look & feel their best & I’m so thankful to be able to do this alongside the woman who taught me the same! 

When I am not working, our family enjoys traveling! We have been to the Dominican Republic, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, & our next trip is scheduled for Cozumel! If there is sunshine & good drinks, we are always in! If you’re looking for a destination wedding & need a wedding planning BFF, I will 10/10 times say YES! I’m always looking for a new adventure & to broaden my horizons! 

I’m looking forward to all the pretty things 2021 has in-store, & trust me, there are SO many amazing events coming your way! Stay tuned. :)

XOXO,

Rebecca Carlyle

Classic Christmas Styled Shoot

It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for winter weddings! I even got married during the winter months myself! What is there not to love about the Christmas spirit, beautiful light displays, & the rich, warm color pallets this time of year?

Luckily for me, I was invited to create some winter magic at the Washington Pavillion for a beautiful styled shoot. The Washington Pavillion was the perfect place to hang a jaw dropping installation & create a warm backdrop to fit our theme. 

Of course, our friends at The Flower Mill knew just what my vision was & made it come to life. How stunning is this evergreen table runner & hanging installation?! Insiders Tip: Evergreen is more cost efficient compared to your other greens such as eucalyptus & ruscus. Another reason to plan your happily ever after during the winter! 

One of my FAVORITE pieces from this shoot is the kraft paper runner that adds all of the cozy personalization a sweetheart table needs. Did you know The Flower Mill has an in-house calligrapher that can create all of your calligraphy needs on items like this, mirrors, & more?! 

Another fun favorite of mine is using candles as decorations EVERYWHERE! They create the most intimate setting for your ceremony & reception. Ask some of our favorite vendors like The Flower Mill, Prairie Lane Vintage Rentals, or ABC Special Events what they have to offer for your candle needs from tealights to pillars to tapers! 

I can’t thank Bri Photography & Honeylane Wedding Films enough for capturing every single detail perfectly from the beautifully crafted desserts from The Cake Lady to the intricate details put together from B.Invited to the flatware & napkins from ABC Special Events that tied the sweetheart table together & the cozy setting of the warm wooden table, emerald settee, & hot chocolate bar items from Prairie Lane Vintage Rentals. 

Last but not least, we can not forget about the vendors who made our already stunning models glow for this shoot! Thank you to The Factory crew for always making our brides look like the queens they are! And how can one not fall IN LOVE with this bridal gown from Marie & Marie?! Every single little detail of this gown is breathtaking. 

A HUGE thank you to all of the vendors that made this shoot possible:

Planner: Rebecca Carlyle with Serendipitous Events

Photographer: Bri Photography

Videographer: Tommy Tran with Honeylane Wedding Films

Stationary: B.Invited

Florist & Candles: Flower Mill

Bridal Gown: Marie & Marie

Models: Mercede & Conner Doherty

Venue: Washington Pavillion 

Rentals: Prairie Lane Vintage Rentals (table, settee, hanging platform, bar cart / dessert items, & colored glassware)

Rentals: ABC Special Events (flatware, napkins, & wine glasses)

Desserts: Cake Lady

HMU: The Factory

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Rebecca Carlyle & the Serendipitous Events team!

How to Celebrate Your Winter Wedding

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Even with no snow in our forecast this year, winter weddings can be magical & they’re some of our favorites! Find some of our tips, tricks, must haves, & must do’s for your winter wonderland throughout this blog! 

1. WINTER WEATHER: The biggest concern about having a winter wedding is the uncertainty of the weather. Be sure to be prepared by reserving a hotel room block & having a shuttle to transport your wedding party & guests to & from your reception space! Talk with your venue on their policy for snow removal, allowing vehicles to stay overnight, & the possibility of having both your ceremony & reception on site so everything is in one location. 

2. STAY WARM: Gift your wedding party some cozy attire such as fur shawls, scarfs, or blankets to take snowy outdoor photos while staying warm! Need cozy ideas while getting ready? Flannel jammies & fuzzy slippers are the way to go & make the cutest getting ready photos! Can’t forget about the men.. snag some fun socks so there are no cold feet! (Pun intended. ;) )

3. DECORATIONS: What we love most about winter weddings? Most churches are already decorated for the Christmas season meaning less decorations for you to provide for your ceremony. This allows you to focus on the one thing that is important - marrying the love of your life! 

4. PHOTOS: Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. There are Christmas lights everywhere & we are lucky enough to have places such as Falls Park & the Washington Pavillion that have beautiful light displays to take photos by. 

5. DETAILS: There are SO many fun winter details you can include in your wedding day from using Christmas trees as your head table backdrop, having spiked hot chocolate as your signature drink, & even having fake snow during your first dance (yes, that’s a thing & we’d love to make it happen for you!)

6. COST: Like stated above some places, such as churches, already have Christmas decorations throughout that are included in your rental price. This means less cost for ceremony decorations & less time setting up & tearing down & more time spending quality time with your loved ones! Also, winter time is considered off-season for most venues & vendors meaning off-season discounts! (Yes, us included!) Ask your venue & vendors what they have to offer for off-season rates.

Are you wanting to have a winter wedding but are so unsure of all of the what-ifs? Let us ease your mind & open up the door to all of the wonderful reasons to celebrate winter weddings! 

Happy Holidays!

Love,

Rebecca Carlyle

& The Serendipitous Events Team!

What Does Serendipitous Events Have To Offer For My Wedding?

Happy Holidays! 

Engagement season is in FULL SWING & we are 100% ready for it! We would love to chat about what we have to offer through Serendipitous Events for your big event!

Did you know that we offer four different packages for weddings & at multiple rates? Our first package would be our Hourly Package. This package is great for scaled down weddings that we like to call “micro weddings”. Micro weddings consist of 50 or less guests & are very intimate & can be held in so many fun, different places like breweries, wineries, or AirBnB’s. With a smaller guest list you can typically go all out with your biggest spenders being your food & beverage! You can pick to splurge on extravagant decorations or maybe book your favorite local singer! Let us assist you with keeping track of your budget & getting you in contact with some of the area's best vendors. 

Our next package & probably one of our most popular packages would be our Day Of Coordination. If anything, everyone needs to at least have a day of coordinator! Can you imagine getting ready for the day, setting up decorations, assuring all of your vendors are arriving on time, making sure all of the flowers are being pinned on & given to the correct person, lighting 100+ candles, creating & following a detailed schedule, making sure that the entire wedding party is wedding ready before walking down the aisle, & setting out your desserts all while trying to enjoy your big day?! NO WAY! It is YOUR big day & you deserve to enjoy it, as well as your family! Let us take all of the day of coordinating stress away by booking this package! We are there throughout your planning process to assist in everything we can & give you vendor recommendations to only the best of the best! We will take over the month before your wedding day & connect with all of your vendors & create a seamless timeline that will be sent to not only all of your vendors, but also to your wedding party too! We are there from the beginning of the day to put together your vision, we will assist getting everyone down the aisle (in the correct order, of course!) for the ceremony & while your ceremony is going we will make sure the reception is guest ready by lighting candles & having your snack bar ready! We will be sure your grand entrance & dinner go smoothly & set out & refill your dessert bar as needed. While you’re enjoying your first dance as newlyweds & enjoying those special mother & father dances, we will be busy packing away all of your gifts & cards into your desired location so you don’t have to worry about them for the rest of the evening! What is there not to LOVE about a day of coordinator? Honestly, we can’t think of anything! ;)

Our next package is our Partial Planning Package! See everything from above? You’re going to get all of that & MORE! With our partial package we will be more hands on with the design elements & create a seamless look from your Save The Dates all the way down to the color of napkin you choose! We will attend your final venue, final floral, & any final design meetings! Basically your design specialist at the tip of your fingers! 

Lastly, our final package is our Full Planning Package. You guessed it, we are ALL IN! Our full planning package is perfect for those couples who have a busy lifestyle, those overwhelmed or stressed out brides who need a full time wedding planning BFF, or for those who live out of state that need someone who can handle all of the details, emails, calls, & questions! Our full planning includes absolutely everything from booking the perfect vendors that match your style, attending all design meetings, day of coordination, & the best part?! This package includes TEAR DOWN! This means you get to walk away at the end of the night with no worry in the world & only love in your heart! If that doesn’t intrigue you, we also assist with any rehearsal dinner or gift opening the following day if needed! 

Still have questions? Feel free to reach out to any of us at Serendipitous Events & set up a FREE consultation - no cost & no strings attached. We would love to get to know you, learn about your engagement story, & help create your event with your signature style, that’s what we strive for.

Cheers & happy engagement season!

XOXO,

Rebecca Carlyle

How To Plan Your Event During A Pandemic

 Hello, hello!

Our team at Serendipitous Events has had such a great year so far full of weddings & events & for that we would love to say THANK YOU! Thank you to all of our wonderful brides & grooms, clients, & vendors for making this year so successful amidst everything that has happened. With that said, I would like to talk about the question that has popped up at all of our events & will continue to be a question for as long as COVID-19 is around - How To Plan Your Event During A Pandemic?

If you were or are still going to be a 2020 bride, groom, mother of the bride, vendor, etc. you know all about having to accommodate & compromise a few things on your big day that you wouldn’t have initially chosen or done. Since March, the wedding & event industry has been hit hard with postponements & overall cancellations due to the infamous coronavirus. All wedding professionals have become very creative with ways to continue your celebration in a safe way, of course!

Here are a few ways to make family & guests feel a little more comfortable during your event:

#1) SANITIZER: Most venues have accommodated to this pretty well in the Sioux Falls area & have provided extra hand sanitation pumps throughout their building, but we also recommend placing hand sanitizer in high traffic areas such as the bar, buffet line, dessert table, guest book table, & guest tables. A lot of our clients have also gotten creative & have had travel sized hand sanitizer as gift favors with sayings like: “Spread love, not germs.”

2.) STOPLIGHT METHOD: The stoplight method includes colored bracelets in green, yellow, & red. Just like a stoplight, the bracelets hold the same meaning. Green = Comfortable with hugs & celebrating on the dance floor! Yellow = Okay with talking! Red = I’m celebrating from a distance. This has been used at SO many weddings & events that most guests are accustomed to this system by now. It is a great visual for the bride & groom who are going around during dinner time to thank their guests, & also perfect for the DJ to see who is comfortable on the dance floor as they go around to dismiss tables for dinner.

3.) MASKS: The most common tip - Provide disposable masks for your guests to use! Guests who will want to wear masks, will more than likely bring their own, but it is a nice gesture to have placed at the guest book table upon entrance - along with a bottle of hand sanitizer, of course!

4.) OUTSIDE: If able, have your wedding be outdoors as much as possible! Luckily for us, we have great venues in our area that are able to accommodate this request with most venues having areas for outdoor ceremonies, cocktail hours, & the option to have garage doors & barn doors open during your reception & still have that indoor feeling. You may also opt for a tent wedding! This allows your guests ease of mind when attending knowing there will be plenty of space to enjoy the evening!

Picture: Jake Photography | Tent: Ideal Tent & Event Rentals | Lighting: DJ Jer

5.) SEATING: Have extra seating in your floor plan! This allows for guests to be able to be spread out during your ceremony & dinner at their comfort level. Another fun element to include would be to mix & match furniture & spread out for your ceremony. Talk about eye appealing & ultimate comfort!

6.) COMMUNICATION: Be transparent to your guests! This is such a HUGE point while planning during the current pandemic we’re in. You want all of your favorite people to be able to attend your big day & stay as safe as possible! A great way to do this is to have a website stating your guest count so older guests or any guest with a compromised immune system knows how many people are expected & they can determine if they are comfortable accepting the invitation to celebrate! Another tip would be to let guests know whether or not your event will be hosted outdoors or if any social distancing guidelines are in place, such as masks required, so they can plan ahead of time.

It is YOUR big day & it is entirely up to you how you would like to approach celebrating, but keep in mind of those around you. Thank you for tuning in - If you have any other suggestions or ideas you have done at your events in regards to guest safety or anything COVID related please leave them in the comments, we would LOVE to hear them!

“Because at the end of the day this is about the bride and groom. The day and the people are important, but the marriage is the most important.”

Pictured: All 6 of our rockstar planners & most of our amazing 2020 couples. <3

XOXO,

Rebecca Carlyle

'Til Death | Styled Shoot

It is SPOOKY SEASON y'all & we are 100% here for it!

It is SO incredibly fun to step out of my comfort zone & get creative with some of the area's best professionals to create a styled shoot, especially when they’re non-traditional like this one! I wanted to really nail the theme of dark, moody, & edgy while staying classy & elegant. Luckily for me, I was able to work with a team of professionals who saw my idea & ran right alongside me. I will let the photos do the talking for me throughout this blog. Check out the photos below, plus all of the participating vendors!

Participating Vendors:

Planner - Rebecca Carlyle | Serendipitous Events

Photographer - Brittany Elizabeth Images

Videographer - Infini Films

Dress - Marie & Marie Bridal

Suit - Halberstadt's 

Hair & Make-Up - Platinum Imagination Hair & Make-Up

Location - YMCA Leif Ericson Day Camp

Rentals - Ideal Tent & Event Rentals | Prairie Lane Vintage Rentals

Florals - The Flower Mill

Special Effects - DJ Jer 

Cake - Bakologie

Stationary - B.Invited

Models - Nate & Shelon Harrington

Welcoming Out Of Town Guests!

Hey there!

I am SO excited to begin the journey of blogging to chat about all things wedding & event related! I have SO many great topics & vendors I would love to talk about, but I am open to any topics or questions any of you may have for myself or our team at Serendipitous Events as wedding & event planners! 

Today I want to talk about how to welcome out of town guests to your wedding or event! Friends & family travel from afar to celebrate events such as weddings, graduations, baby showers, & so much more. I personally have been so lucky to have had the opportunity to celebrate couples who have lived in New York, Texas, & Tennessee to name a few, who have chosen to celebrate the biggest day of their life in our amazing city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Of course with living out of state, it is likely that most family & friends are going to be traveling in for the big event! 

Something that I love to recommend to my clients is creating personalized “Welcome Bags” to those who have traveled from afar to be placed in their hotel room or at check-in once they arrive at their hotel. These “Welcome Bags” can include so many different items - but my favorites are: 1.) Weekend itinerary - This lets guests know what exactly is going on, when & where so they don’t miss a beat! 2.) List of the couple’s favorite places! Who doesn’t love to try new restaurants, wineries, or breweries? Sioux Falls has SO much to offer in these departments!  3.) Things to do - This can include activities such as events going on in town over the weekend, walking or biking trails, or your favorite movie theatre! 4.) And of course, pre-mixed cocktails or a shooter to kick off the weekend celebration! 

Luckily for me, I have the opportunity to work with one of my favorite creators, Brandi Goebel with B.Invited. She is so brilliant when creating stationary pieces for all of our clients! Above are a few samples of items she has put together for our out of town guests to be included in some type of “Welcome Bag”. She included some of the couple’s favorite places & also local favorites. Attached to the “Welcome To Sioux Falls” page (located above) is the “Here’s The Plan!” page letting all guests stay tuned over the duration of their stay. (If you know me, you know I love a good timeline!)

Another fun example would be a pocket stationary filled with details throughout the weekend! How amazing is this piece Brandi put together for our couple Mr. & Mrs. Ronning last July? This stationary included ALL of the things & was SO incredibly fun & full of details from their “Red, White, & Blue” rehearsal party, the wedding day, & the “Bye-Bye Brunch” the following morning.

Photos By: Brittany Elizabeth Images

Promise me, your guests will THANK YOU for providing them with all of the tools for them to have a wonderful stay! It will also make your guests feel SO welcomed & trust me, when guests have an idea of what the day will be like ahead of time, it makes your big day go that much more smoothly! 

Thank you for tuning in for my first blog of many! I’m looking forward to sharing so many things with you all! <3

XOXO, 

Rebecca Carlyle

Event Planner

Mr. & Mrs. Haley & Jared Bartling

The day started at Meadow Barn with the girls getting ready in the bridal suite. Hair and makeup was by Lacey Mae Hair and Makeup Artist. Kaylynn with Krush Beauty also did makeup for the bridal party.

Allana with Studiofotografie captured the day with her amazing photos. The videography and paper products were done by the talented Brekan Peterson with Brekan Designs. The Flower Mill did the florals that brought the barn wood tables in the venue to life!

Christine and Ryan Egan did the live music for the ceremony. After the couple said their "I do's," the guests enjoyed cocktail hour. Cocktail hour was such a fun time with yard games in the beautiful August weather. Rentals by Ideal Wedding completed the table settings with some finishing touches by Simply Devine and Prairie Lane.

Cake and dessert was by the Cake Lady. Dinner was catered in by Central Catering. Matt at DJ Jer led the evening with music and emceeing. A sparkler send off ended the night as the bridal party was taken on a ride around town with Royal Limo.

Jared and Haley, thank you SO much for letting us be a part of your big day. It was truly a  blast to enjoy the evening with you as you celebrated the love you share. We wish you all the happiness in the world!

XOXO