Cynthia Ferris-Bennett and Mike Bennett are married and work together, to boot.

"We're perfect opposites," Ferris-Bennett said. "We've always worked together."

The couple originally worked together as engineers but decided to venture into new fields and move to Lake Tahoe.

They opened Events, Ink in August at Kingsbury Center. The store offers custom invitations, stationery, wedding necessities and event favors.

"We do flat (normal) invitations, to really ridiculous and over-the-top," Ferris-Bennett said.

Ferris-Bennett said she's been operating Events, Ink for five years in Las Vegas, but this is her first venture in Lake Tahoe. Las Vegas clients still contact Ferris-Bennett for invitations, but the couple no longer own a shop there.

The couple aren't content operating just one business, though. In May, they'll also open The Mountain Music Company. The store will sell and repair instruments and offer music lessons.

The couple's stores are side-by-side in the Kingsbury Center complex; Ferris-Bennett said they'll be connected after they knock down the adjoining wall. Ferris-Bennett hopes that when parents drop off their kids for a 30-minute music lesson, they'll browse through Events, Ink, too.

The former engineers are musicians, too. Ferris-Bennett said her husband plays the guitar and keyboard, and she plays the drums.

Events, Ink is at 290 Kingsbury Grade, Suite 4. It's open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and by appointment on Sunday and after hours. For more information, call (775) 588-0484.

For more information on The Mountain Music Company, visit TheMountainMusicCompany.com or call (775) 586-1717.

SLT mayor honors Simpson's Jewelers

South Lake Tahoe Mayor Mike Weber presented Esther Simpson, the owner of Simpson's Jewelers, with a proclamation and award this month for 42 years of excellent service.

Simpson said she was surprised by the city recognition.

"The years go by so fast," she said. "It's a happy and enjoyable business, and I want to stay as long as I can."

She said she likes it because the store has been the site for many a marriage proposal.

She recalls one extraordinary proposal in the 1970s when a couple decided to get married on the spot. Simpson called a preacher, who drove to the store to perform the impromptu ceremony.

Over the years, Simpson said she has sold jewelry to Jerry Lewis, Elvis Presley and Sammy Davis Jr. She looks forward to more exciting times.

"I'm not ready for retirement," Simpson said.

The store is at 4000 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Suite 26; it's open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call (530) 544-6171.

- Have information on your business that you'd like to share? Contact reporter Sara Thompson at (530) sthompson@tahoedailytribune.com.