Planning a wedding can be overwhelming to say the least. However, Andrea Knapp and Stephanie Forte have had years of experience in creating the special day. In 2015, Andrea and Stephanie decided it was time to share their expertise, as well as the expertise of many local wedding professionals, with brides throughout the Pee Dee by hosting a wedding expo, Savvy Soiree Wedding and Event Showcase. Join us as we venture into the minds and backgrounds of these skilled wedding professionals.
VIP: “Tell us a little about yourselves.”
Andrea: “I moved to the U.S. almost 20 years ago and became a citizen in 2009. I have been a professional photographer for 14 years and am the owner of ‘Photographs by Andrea.’ As a wedding and portrait photographer, I have shot 25 to 30 weddings each year.”
Stephanie: “I’m lead planner at Elegant Events, a wedding and event planning company. I became a certified wedding and event planner shortly after moving to Columbia 13 years ago. I’m originally from Johnsonville so we work a lot in the Pee Dee area because it’s still home to me. Seeing a wedding or event come together and executed flawlessly is one of my greatest joys.”
VIP: “How did the two of you meet?”
Stephanie: “We met through a wedding vendor forum online right after Andrea moved to S.C. She was searching for area wedding vendors to network with and we QUICKLY became GREAT friends. We have worked a couple of weddings together as vendors, Andrea as the photographer and I as the wedding planner.”
Andrea: “During this time we also attended and participated in many wedding shows in S.C. and N.C. We quickly realized that we weren’t happy with the way those shows were being produced or the way we were treated as wedding experts. We knew that we could do better by producing well-rounded shows.”
Stephanie: “While being vendors, we also learned that we didn’t only want to cater to the needs of brides and grooms, but also to the industry experts. We wanted to do everything we could to get their businesses known to people that need their services.”
VIP: “How is the success of Savvy Soiree?”
Andrea: “Each one has been more successful than the previous one! We have industry experts that showcase with one show and immediately sign up for the following one, which is a testament to our success. The feedback from not only the experts who showcase with us, but also the brides confirms this. We have brides and grooms that have been to one show recommending the follow up shows to their recently engaged friends.”
Stephanie: “We are excited to take the show on the road this August to The R.O.B. in Lake City! Our next expo, August 5th, will be our first show outside of Florence. Seth Kines and the team at Visit Lake City have been wonderful to work with.”