Spotlight: Samantha Dockery of Bliss by Sam

I had the recent opportunity to spend some time with Samantha Dockery owner and lead consultant/planner of Bliss by Sam – a full service event planning & styling company based in Durham, NC. Within seconds it is obvious that she is full of energy and has a natural upbeat, can do attitude. As we spoke, it became clear that she not only excels at event planning, she loves it!

Here is the Samantha Dockery “snapshot”:

* Birthplace: New York City

* Current Residence: Durham, NC

* Qualifications:

1999 – Bachelor of Science In Nursing (aka really good at taking care of people and cleaning up their messes!)
2001 – Masters in Business Administration (aka really good about reminding clients that they can’t go broke over their events!)
2005 – Certified through the Association of Certified Wedding Consultants
2008 – Obtained Professional Planner designation through the Association of Bridal Consultants

Samantha and her team offer flexibility in their wedding services by making several tiers of planning:

• Full Service Planning & Event Styling
• Partial Planning
• Final Month Coordination

She is fortunate to have a rock solid and fun staff with whom she works and shares experiences:

• Rachel Hamm - Professional Wedding Planner
  Services Provided: Full Service Wedding & Event Styling, Partial Planning Services & Final Month Coordination
• Ali Bamberger -
  Services Provided: Final Month Coordination
• LaShayla Simpson -
  Services Provided: Final Month Coordination
• Lee E. Lewis -
  Services Provided: Event Planner & Event Styling

While sitting down with her, I had the opportunity to ask Samantha a few questions about work, life and other things.

What do you find the most rewarding about your job?

She loves the happy moments in life. Delivering an excellent product.

She loves making the biggest day of her couple's lives bigger, better and happier.

At the end of the day, it is the “Thank you's”

What do you do when you are not working?

Three words – TRAVEL and DALLAS COWBOYS!!

She has traveled all over the world, from Barcelona (where she almost decided to stay and have her things shipped to her), to London, the Riviera Maya, Cancun and Chicago just to name a few.

What’s the one thing you wish everyone knew about you or your business?

You will get the highest level of service regardless of which team member with which you are working. Her entire team is top of the line!

For clients investing in Full Service Event Planning & Styling, the BBS girls take “team approach” to the max by getting the couples' vendors together at least once to assist with designing the overall event.

What do you think sets your company apart from other companies?

• They have systems and back-up systems as well as an operations manual. They are one of the few planning companies that are run like a corporation.
• They tackle the work (and a lot of work and preparation it is) with a highly spirited attitude making it all seem effortless and FUN
• Samantha and her team are highly organized, educated and up to date.
• She and her team are not trendy, but “trend-setters”.
• They are full disclosure planners, making sure every vendor receives all planning information so everyone is on the same page with everything

What is the craziest thing you’ve ever seen?

Someone brought a HAMSTER to a wedding and asked her team where they should put it!

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever seen?

There was one event at the Fearrington , a very small and personal event with only about 35 people and everyone got to know one another. It was a great evening!

There was another event at the Umstead, where the dance floor was surrounded by custom created palm trees, it was a tropical and larger than life vision.

What’s the biggest mistake people make in their planning?

• When planning their budget, many people forget about the tax and gratuity which can change the overall figures substantially.
• Many people forget to allow for an efficient time line after the ceremony, wedding party pictures and cocktail hour leading up to the reception.

Who are your favorite music artists/bands?

• Beyonce
• Prince
• Lil  Wayne
• Adele
• Maroon 5
• Steven Tyler
• Daughtry
• Pitbull

What’s the best piece of advice you can give to couples or people during their planning?

• Remember what you are celebrating. Everything else is trivial compared to that.
• If you need a comprehensive outline, refer to “The Knot” for their planning tool, it is outstanding!
  
  
  Great information from one of Raleigh's top wedding planning & styling professionals - Samantha Dockery of Bliss by Sam!
  
  
  Keep on dancing!
  
  
  Jim Unger
  Professional Raleigh DJ & Owner
  Ninety Nine Entertainment
  "Raleigh's Source for Professional DJ Entertainment"

Coffee with Tracy Adams - Adams & Events

I recently had the opportunity have a cup of coffee with Tracy Adams of Adams & Events. Once we started talking – the time flew and we wound up spending most of the afternoon together!

Most of the wedding industry, in the Raleigh area, already knows Tracy, but in case you don't here's a brief excerpt from her bio found on her website at: www.adamsandevents.com.

"Tracy Adams founded Adams & Events in June 2005, after working with another planning company for five years.  Tracy struck out on her own to continue providing area clients with event planning help. She hails from Ohio
and now calls North Carolina home.

Tracy has personally helped plan and coordinate hundreds of weddings and special occasions and has a rich rolodex of resources at her disposal. She is a master at solving the inevitable problems that occur during the planning and execution of events, as well as taking the stressful details out of the planning process for the Bride, Groom and their families. Her many years as a Planner have taught her the art of customer service and doing what's necessary to ensure client satisfaction in all she does. Her level of detail, commitment to events and genuine concern for helping others has aided her tremendously in growing her business.

" Being of service to others is important to me and remains the reason I do what I do in this industry."

Tracy has 3 top notch professionals that assist her with event planning in the Raleigh area. Three experienced event planning veterans, all of whom are very well respected by the industry professionals and Tracy. I didn’t have the opportunity to speak with them but as they are a very important part of Tracy’s team I wanted to make sure I mentioned them:

Liz Miller
           Saundra Seets Carmichael

                       Jane Simpson    

I threw a few questions at Tracy during our sit down and she hit me with some interesting, enlightening and some funny information:

How did you get into the wedding business?

She started in the wedding business back in 2001 - working with another company. She was the “face” (and muscle) of that company for years until the owner moved to another state – that’s when she decided to start her own business. – enter stage left – Adams& Events!

How would you describe your approach to weddings?

“I’m honest to a fault, while meticulously preparing during the planning process”. She feels it’s important that she educate the couple about all aspects of what is to come and what is involved. She gets a feel for the couple's personality and then recommends accompanying vendors based on who she feels will gel well with the couple throughout the entire planning phase as well as the performing well at the wedding and reception.

What do you find most rewarding about what you do?

She “loves being of service.” Tracy “loves the way her heart feels” when everything falls into place.

What's the one thing you wish everyone knew about you and Adams &Events?

They are the absolute best at making the planning experience positive and FUN!

What do you think sets Adams & Events apart from other companies?

Tracy feels she is one of the most flexible event planners on the market, allowing the client to customize the extent of the planning assistance they require.

She also feels she has one of the most positive attitudes and outlooks (and I have to agree) – not to mention her level of experience with 11 years as a wedding planner, bringing a wealth of knowledge and resources to the table. Sit down with Tracy for 60 seconds and you will know she is the type that will have everything under control and everyone will have fun through the whole process!

What's the coolest thing you've ever seen?

She’s seen many things – cool – crazy – and some without any words to describe them at all…however, she remembers an exceptionally moving wedding ceremony that took place in the recent past involving a military couple. They decided to elevate the meaning of the ceremony to not just them as a couple but their belief in God. During the ceremony – they did an “altar call” to anyone that felt that then and now was the right time to give themselves to the Lord and 6 people accepted the invitation! Tracy said there was not a dry eye in the house – moving, special and meaningful don’t even come close in describing the emotions felt that day.

What's the biggest mistake people make in their planning?

One very BIG MISTAKE is that one should never assume that non-paid (well intentioned friends/family) will do what they’re expected to do (or live up to the expectations of the Bride). Hire professionals to do what they are best at and let the family and friends enjoy the day!

What are your favorite bands/artists?

· Luther Vandross
· Will Downing
· And musical geniuses like - Stevie Wonder, Prince and Elton John

What do you do when you are not working?

Tracy loves going to movies, cooking and experimenting with food making it better and more creative each time – she enjoys taking old family recipes and adding a few twists to bring them up to date and more tasty.

She loves watching the Food Network more than any other channel.

What's the best piece of advice you can give to couples during their planning?

· Give yourself plenty of time to plan the wedding.
· Make sure to find a trusted person to be the wedding day “go-to” person for everything and make sure that it’s NOT a family member (they are too busy enjoying the day)
· Decide early on whether the financial backers (the people who are writing the checks) are also the decision makers!!

To summarize my afternoon with Tracy - we laughed, had some coffee, shared some industry insight with one another and laughed some more. I not only learned a lot from (and about) Tracy but gained some valuable insight into the industry we love.

If you or anyone you know are going to be planning a wedding anytime soon – one of the smartest calls to make would be to Tracy Adams at Adams & Events. She and her team will shine a light into the dark corners, illuminating the entire planning process, making it easy. You won’t have put your life on hold, but will be able to enjoy and cherish the planning piece of the wedding. You’ll know that the details will be taken care of and the wedding day will be as perfect as you imagine!

Keep on Dancing!

Jim Unger
Professional Raleigh DJ & Owner
Ninety Nine Entertainment
"Raleigh's Source for Professional DJ Entertainment"