Walking into the posh Mansion on Forsyth ballroom on July 13, I find Savannah Wedding Vendors founder Jamie Weaver chatting with event host Old Savannah Tours, Renea Scott, and the Mansion's Ricky Armstrong. With over a decade knowing all three of these fab peeps, I start my night with Jamie.
The Dream Weaver photographer is looking exquisite in a royal blue floor-length dress and shares, “I am stoked about my new photo booth, I am offering a Savannah photo scavenger hunt and still organize photography classes.”
Wanting a pic with All About You Entertainment's Cindy Brown, The Mansion's Leslie Harbin, and OST's Victorian-dressed Jaron Carlson and Toby Rogers, Jamie is called away after I snap my favorite pic of the night.
Following the camera flash, I find Somi Benson-Jaja testing out his Nikon camera. Pausing to talk with him about his love of gardening and travel plans to Jamaica and Cuba, I am reminded that Somi is a classical trained trombonist. What can't this guy do?!
Shooting with him is Noble Holt, a roller skating, travel-loving foodie who admits he is single and hints that Somi is, as well. Not confirming, I leave Somi to head over to the first table of succulent sweets to meet Linda Fisher of Sugar Whisk. The confection queen is handing me a blueberry lemon wedding cake creation while a voice from my past yells for me to come visit her.
Lord help us all! Pint-sized Donna Stewart is alive and well but missing her red locks. Introducing me to her fellow The Low Country Love Birds' April Miller and Tina Harris, I learn that their dove-release company does gender reveals, weddings and funerals — who knew?!
Next up is a flurry of friends and pics! Savannah Rum Runners Meggan Hartley and her mom Debbie Fischer hand me a strawberry cake pop, Capital B Honey's Kristen Harkleroad poses with River Street Sweets Celia Riddick and Ashley Lammons while Shannon Hall at Nothing Bundt Cakes reminds us of her two year anniversary next week.
Arriving next is Stephanie Johnson and Melissa Bolechala of Intimate Celebrations, a romance concierge team, and Tynika Jenkins of LBG Galleries, an event planning company. Proud to show me an article featuring her first event gig on Daufuskie Island, Tynika happily poses with her two new friends.
By now the low lit ballroom is filled with SWV supporters and I have taste-tested all the sugar I can handle, so I pause to commend Ricky on a fabulous event. The Mansion's director of sales and catering tells me, “We are truly thrilled to welcome and support so many local businesses.”
While talking with his partner Brandon Bovre about their love of "dogs, hiking and sipping spirits," I see an uber-tall dude peering over the crowd. Is that Nolan Garner who has been gone for almost 10 years? I run over to hug my fellow "no kids, never married, Scorpio" and tease him about his man bun while posing him with OST's always zany Renea Scott and Ann O'Neal of the Gingerbread House.
Wait! When did this happen? Ann tells me, "Foxy Loxy's Jen Jenkins bought the GH at the first of June and recruited me to help promote the iconic wedding and events venue." Wishing I could talk longer, I leave to hug another long-lost friend, Audrey Allgaier of Bella Harmony.
The classical trained flutist and soprano introduces me to Effie Mydell, a solo artist and fellow music teacher and classical guitarist Joe Flanders. Hoping I will have a chance to hear their 19th century parlor music, I toast the ladies and make a lap around the exquisite venue and grab "the best for last" treat of the night, a Milk-n-Honey popsicle from Savannah Square Pops' sweet Judd Wiggins.
Representing over 600 wedding vendors from a 360 Photo Booth, and distilleries to travel agencies and candlestick makers, this wedding industry organization has spent the past eight years helping couples plan the perfect wedding using only local vendors.
“By keeping our money here, we were able to support each other through emergencies like raising money to help repair Jennie’s Treats on the Streets' ice cream truck after an accidental truck-burning and continued to have events during COVID to help keep our businesses alive,” shares Jamie.
After a devastating year to a destination wedding industry, Savannah Wedding Vendors promises to promote local businesses by continuing to host a networking event on the second Tuesday of every month at a different location. Jamie invites everyone to meet them from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 10 at the New Realm Distillery on Whitaker Street.
For more information, go online to savannahweddingvendors.com.
Invite Bunny to your gathering, gala or other social event. Contact Bunny at 912-844-1122 or email her at bunnyware@aol.com. See more columns by Bunny Ware at SavannahNow.com/Lifestyle/.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Networking after COVID helps Savannah wedding industry
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