By: Hope Thompson

Through growing up together, getting married, and raising children, Angelia Johnson and Cyndi Whitaker, founders of Lillie Belles Wedding and Event Planning, have built a lasting friendship while also becoming business partners.

“We’re really more like sisters,” Whitaker said of her friendship with Johnson.

As Johnson and Whitaker began reminiscing of their life-long friendship, there were several laughs to be had as the two remembered fond memories from the past.

“Cyndi would come over to play all the time when we were growing up,” said Johnson.

It was during these many days spent playing together that Whitaker said their friendship blossomed and their love for catering and decorating began.

“Angelia’s mom was always taking us from wedding venue to wedding venue that she was helping with,” said Whitaker with a smile. “She (Johnson’s mother) would take me and my brother everywhere with them.”

Not only did Johnson and Whitaker receive some hands-on learning through the numerous weddings they assisted Johnson’s mother with, but it was Johnson’s grandmother, Miss Lillie Belle, who really sparked the love of event planning in their hearts.

“Sunday evenings were for formal dinners at Miss Lillie Belle’s house,” explained Whitaker. “She (Lillie Belle) would let Angelia and I set the table for dinner. We had to know where each fork, spoon, and knife had to be placed.”

Under Miss Lillie Belle’s watchful eye, Johnson and Whitaker learned all the rules of formal dining etiquette, and how to serve guests properly. These basic principles have been carried into their wedding and event planning business today.

What was the inspiration for these two friends to become business partners though?

As Whitaker explained, “We started Lillie Belle’s about four years ago. We were always helping our friends with weddings or events and of course we did our own children’s weddings as well, so we just said, why not have our own business?”

From there the creativity began. Both Johnson and Whitaker explained that picking a name for their business at first was challenging. After tossing around a few ideas for names that would showcase their abilities and their passion for event planning, the friends and business partners had an epiphany.

“It just hit us both at once one Sunday night,” laughed Whitaker. “We said, let’s name the business after Miss Lillie.”

Hence the name, Lillie Belles, became the name for business and the name that has made quite a splash in the community. As Johnson and Whitaker explained, Lillie Belle had “a touch of class” about her. When guests came to dine with Lille Belle at her home in her formal dining room, she would receive her guests with a charming, southern hospitality smile. This kind of southern charm is what both Johnson and Whitaker strive to portray through their business.

Of course, incorporating southern charm into their business, Johnson and Whitaker make sure that they have beautiful vintage china for their guests to use at a small fee. In fact, Lillie Belle’s provides all of the china, flowers, and props for their guest’s events and special days. Johnson and Whitaker even go so far as to provide the food for the event as well.

“The only things we don’t provide are cakes and photos,” said Johnson.

Lillie Belle’s does not only cater and decorate for weddings and receptions, they also cater specials events such as bridal showers, or formal teas, as well as baby showers, anniversary parties, and Christmas parties. Their ultimate goal of course is to make sure that their guests are happy with the outcome of the event.

As Johnson has learned in the four years that she and Whitaker have helped with weddings, the most important part about the wedding is to make sure the bride is happy. In fact, when asked the question of “what’s the main focus for you both when it comes to weddings”, Johnson comically replied, “the bride, the bride, the bride!”

Whitaker added to this statement by saying, “We sit down with the bride and we listen to what she wants. We take that vision and turn it into a reality.”

The most gratifying part of their business, as both Johnson and Whitaker agreed, was the look of surprise on the bride’s face as she steps into her wedding venue to see her dream become a reality. This same gratification comes from all of their events when the event is everything that the host thought it would be and more.

Of course, in preparing special events and helping with weddings, there have been a few stressful moments for the friends that they can recall. However, there have been some rather fun events that they still think on fondly. One such event that Johnson and Whitaker remember fondly is a wedding that they participated in at Lowe Mill in Huntsville. As Johnson and Whitaker explained, the young couple that was getting married at the rustic, historic fabric mill, had a swing dance reception, equipped with a swing jazz band from Nashville. Both Johnson and Whitaker lit up with smiles remembering how much fun they had in catering this particular wedding. They explained that event has been one of their most favorite moments in the four years that they have been in business.

However, it is not only the event planning and coordinating that is fun for Johnson and Whitaker. They also enjoy just simply being business partners and laughing together, working together, and of course shopping together.

“We love to shop for props,” said Johnson. “It’s always nice to work with someone that you’re close with and can trust. We work well with bouncing ideas off each other,” Johnson went on to say.

“Where one is weaker in an area, the other is stronger,” added Whitaker to this sentiment. “That’s why we work together and we enjoy what we do.”

Even though their schedules are consistently booked, Johnson and Whitaker strive to bring a sense of southern charm to each and every event they participate in and with that effort comes great pride in their work, just as their great inspiration, Miss Lillie Belle, taught them to have.

To schedule a free consultation with Angelia Johnson and Cyndi Whitaker, check out their website, lilliebelleweddings.com. Or, contact them on Facebook at Lillie Belle Weddings and Events.