View from the front door:

Stop by and say hi — I’ll be there various times throughout the week. The address is 425 SW Madison Avenue, Suite C in Corvallis, Oregon.

I will be having a grand opening in the next month or so. If you’d like to know more about that sign up for my newsletter (you can sign up for it at the very bottom of this blog). I will be sending out an announcement via the newsletter with various offers and discounts that will apply if you attend the open house!

This is what it looked like before all my hard work (and my husband’s hard work too – thanks Joe!!):

I have had the vision of this studio in my head for years and now it’s come true! I’m SO excited!! There are so many great things planned for 2010 and I can’t wait to introduce them all to you… stay tuned!!  ♥ Sara ♥

The awesome cake is from Mandy’s Custom Cakes:

The sign is from Uppercase Living:

The flowers are from Celebration Florals:

The dress is from Simply Elegant Bridal Boutique:

Invitations by a.e.l design:

My new contemporary metal cover album on display!:

Some studio decor:

The After Hours flier:

Flinn Block Hall dimly lit for a nice ambiance:

The bar area at Flinn Block Hall:

Anni, the owner of Flinn Block Hall, is a chef and she helped make the delicious food:

People enjoying the vibe:

The fabulous event coordinator, Adrienne Kume, working hard:

Showcase
By Steve Lathrop
Albany Democrat-Herald

Albany businesses help each other in shared space

When customers come in to see Adrienne Kume and Sara Lil they can expect to be treated right.

Sparkling cider on the table and comfortable, elegant decor are part of the greeting planned to make the proper impression.

“When we saw this place it had what we wanted: charm, character and history,” Kume said.

Those traits brought Adrienne Kume Event Design & Coordinating and Sara Lil Photography together at 222 First Ave. W. No. 5, in the Flinn building.

“It can be hard to find us but people generally feel comfortable when they get here,” Kume said.

The space, which the two have occupied since July, is about showcasing what the businesses offer.

“We display our work and meet clients here. It’s an extension of what we do,” Lil said.

Her photographs dot the walls and complement Kume’s decorative touches.

Although the businesses are separate entities, the two team up as often as possible.

“We promote each other,” Kume said.

Their work often overlaps. Kume coordinates events of all sorts and was originally looking to team with someone for wedding planning.

“When we met, we clicked right away,” Lil said.

The initial meeting over coffee generated an outpouring of ideas between the two. They found common ground, including the fact they are both working mothers with a passion for their work.

One thing led to another and an eventual first joint venture, an open house in the Flinn Block, where they discovered their new office.

“We’re separate businesses but we like to be seen as a team,” Kume said. “If I’m with a client I mention the advantages of including Sara’s skills in the package.”

Kume has nine years experience and began her own business from home in 2006. Her clients use her talents to organize events ranging from weddings to corporate functions to theme parties.

Not just an idea person, she is a budget counselor and a liaison with vendors.

“I don’t want to force people into something they don’t want. I want them to get what they pay for,” she said.

Her creative impulses jibe with those of Lil, who has been a photographer for 15 years and began running her own studio in 2002.

Lil does little in-house work, preferring to go to the client on location.

Although shop hours for consultations are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Kume and Lil aren’t tied to a time clock.

“We aren’t always here at the same time,” Lil said. “We schedule a lot online and share a calendar.”

“And we talk every day,” Kume added. “We want to exceed people’s expectations.”

Business has been good despite a slower economy.

“Weddings and events go on,” Kume said. “It’s the same for both of us.”

Most customers come through the Internet. Samples can be easily displayed there and eventually clients end up at the Flinn building to begin discussing details.

The two are hosting a holiday open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 17.

For more information about Kume’s business, call (541) 990-4171 or visit www.adriennekumeevents.com. Lil can be reached at (541) 738-6160 or www.saralilphoto.com.

[ Click here for original link]

The tree on my car!:

Onto the big event… I have a lot of images to share:

Inside our studio:

Beautiful arrangements provided by Celebrations Florals, thanks Carol and Peggy! You’re work is amazing!!

Our very first guests dressed in black and white to go with the party theme!:

She found the chocolate fondue!:

A view from above:

Special thanks to (in no particular order):

• My husband for his love and support
• My daughter for reminding me to laugh, especially during stressful times
• My sister for being the photographer during the event, and for helping with the food
• My mom for making the chocolate fondue
• Adrienne for all her hard work
• Adrienne’s husband, Eric, for all his patience and his help with hanging everything for us
• Celebration Florals for providing the flowers
• Don for being an excellent host
• All my friends, family, colleagues, and clients that stopped by and made this event especially wonderful!!

If you missed the party and would like to see the studio we will be there on Friday, August 15th, from 12-5pm serving champagne!

The party was a great success! Thanks to those of you that stopped by — it really meant a lot to me! I will have some pictures to blog sometime in the near future. Anyway, here’s the announcement the paper wrote:

Grand opening set for new downtown studio

Adrienne Kume Event Design & Coordinating and Sara Lil Photography will hold a grand opening of their new studio at 222 First Ave. in the Flinn Block in downtown Albany from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday. The studio will house both businesses, according to Kume.

The grand opening will feature a black and white theme, and will provide an opportunity for the public to meet the owners and tour the shop. Complimentary champagne and chocolate will be served.

For more information, visit www.adriennekumeevents.com or www.saralilphoto.com

Democrat-Herald