A Month For Giving Thanks

 Patriots ~ Pilgrims ~ Praise

The word Thanksgiving is defined as the action of giving thanks or gratefully acknowledging benefits or gifts received, especially to God.  

November is the perfect month for reflection and to offer thanksgiving not only on the day that President Lincoln declared a national holiday in 1863, but everyday of the month.  As another year draws to an end it's the perfect time to look back on the months past and count all of our blessings. 

November 11th or Veteran's Day is a day to remember the sacrifices our Veterans have made to ensure our safety and freedom.  It's a day to be thankful for all the freedoms we enjoy as Americans and often take for granted.  Be sure and say "thank you" to a Veteran this Veteran's Day and let them know you appreciate their service to our nation and the sacrifices they've made to keep us the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.  

Election Day is another day in November to be thankful.  It's a day that we exercise our freedom to vote for the public officials of our choice.  A privilege not every country enjoys.

We as Americans have much to be thankful for every day of the year, not just in November, but this November we hope everyone will take some time to be still, reflect and remember all of the blessings that have been bestowed upon us as a nation and remember to give thanks for each of them. Remember our founding fathers and reflect on the principals that made this nation great and remember Freedom Isn't Free.  

We are thankful for the freedoms we enjoy and as our way of saying "thank you" to our military for the sacrifices they make to ensure our freedom and right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,  Grand Occasions is extending a discount to all active US military that books a Full Service Planning, Coordination & Event Design Package for a 2013 wedding.  Give us a call to learn more details, be sure and mention our LIBERTY 2013 promotion.  

In the words of Lee Greenwood ~

 And I'm proud to be an American,

where at least I know I'm free.

And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me.....

God Bless The U S A !

The photo above is a favorite of just one of the military couples Grand Occasions has had the honor of working with.  They just celebrated their 3rd wedding anniversary and we wish them many more years of happiness together.  

SAY YES to THE BEST.....Dress Contest

Our 2010 season began on March 12th with a rehearsal dinner at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club and ended on December 18th with two gorgeous events, a wedding at DeBordieu Colony and a Silver Wedding Anniversary celebration at Pine Lakes Country Club.  All of our forty plus weddings of the season had their own unique style and personality, but they all had one thing in common, a dress, and in some cases two!

  To kick off our 2011 season, Grand Occasions Inc. is sponsoring a SAY YES to THE BEST.....Dress contest, showcasing the gowns of our 2010 brides.  Every dress was absolutely stunning and perfect for the bride who selected and wore it, but only one can hold the title of Grand Occasions BEST Dress of 2010 and it's up to you to decide who the winner will be.  Finalists have been chosen by a panel of judges and have been posted in albums on our Grand Occasions Inc. Facebook page.   

Some of our brides had been dreaming of the perfect dress since they were very young and knew exactly what it would look like, others hadn't really given it a lot of thought until they said "I will".  Either way they all embarked on a mission to find their perfect dress and say " YES....THIS IS THE DRESS" !  They all successfully accomplished their quest!  Now it's time for you to embark on a mission and help choose "THE BEST" Dress of our 2010 season and say "YES, THIS IS THE BEST"!  Everyone is eligible to vote (one vote per person please).  To do so, please follow the link to our Grand Occasions Inc. Facebook page and "like" us then find your favorite dress from our finalists, click "like" on their album and leave a comment.  Voting ends on Friday, January 28, 2011 at midnight.  The winner will be announced on Valentine's Day.

  In the next few weeks we will be highlighting some of our 2010 weddings and the dresses that weren't selected to compete as a finalist.  This years weddings and gowns are just as spectacular and we can't wait to share those with you throughout the year.  We hope you will enjoy them as much as we do.  

 Good luck to all of our SAY YES to THE BEST.....Dress contestants!

Please follow the link below and "LIKE" us, then vote for your favorite! 

Grand Occasions Inc. Facebook link

Short Notice Success!

In the 20 plus years I've been planning weddings and events I've worked on many short notice weddings, but none as short notice as Les and Carrie's 2 week notice wedding. I didn't have time to wait a week to get a signed contract and payment so I had to trust that everything would fall into place and begin working immediately if I was to accomplish the task at hand. I didn't want to just accomplish the task, I wanted to make their special day just as wonderful as if we'd worked on it for months. I was extremely lucky to find that some of my very best vendors were available for their date. Before long I had a team of the very best working with me to make their special day the very best it could be.

Fifty of their closest family members and friends made the trip to Myrtle Beach to celebrate with the happy couple. They were serenaded by the beautiful sound of the steel drums that seemed to keep harmony with the waves and that combined with delicious food, great dinner and dance music and a gorgeous full moon and moonlight that danced off the waves made for a Grand Occasion indeed. In just two short weeks we successfully pulled together one of the nicest ceremonies and reception I have every coordinated. One of the main reasons we were so successful, besides being extremely lucky that some of my top vendors happened to have availability, was the trust and confidence the bride and mother of the bride put in Grand Occasions Inc. Thank you Carrie and Jolete for putting your trust in me, you were a joy to work with!

Congratulations Carrie & Les

&

Best Wishes for a Lifetime of Happiness!

What An Honor and Pleasant Surprise

www.weddingwire.com

You can read the entire press release on the Awards page of our web site

www.grandoccasions-inc.com

Grand Occasions, Inc. was notified yesterday that they have been selected to receive The Wedding Wire 2010 Brides Choice Award for Wedding Planning. We would like to say Thank You to all of our past newlyweds for nominating us for this award. It is truly an honor and it has been a pleasure working with each of you. We will strive to continue to provide our clients with the same quality of service we would want to receive and work tirelessly to make your special day the very best it can be.

Myrtle Beach Weddings

The number one trend in weddings today is the Destination Wedding. A destination wedding is the perfect choice for the couple who wants to make their special day a memorable experience.

Are you dreaming of saying "I Do" in a romantic seaside ceremony with sand between your toes, surrounded by a warm ocean breeze and the sound of the waves? Tropical paradise accurately describes the white sandy beaches, vibrant blue waters of the Atlantic and the breathtaking golden sunsets of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Or maybe your dream is one of enchantment, defined by southern charm and grandeur amidst brilliant magnolias and stately live oaks draped with Spanish moss.

Whether an intimate wedding on the beach at sunset, a grand affair out of the pages of Gone With The Wind, filled with Southern charm or something in-between, you are sure to find the perfect location for your dream wedding along the Grand Strand of Myrtle Beach.

We would love to help you make your special day the very best it can be. Call for your free initial consultation and start planning your Myrtle Beach wedding.

Family Affair

Just because your budget isn't grand doesn't mean your wedding can't be. Why not consider a small, intimate wedding on the beach surrounded by your immediate family. That's what Lynette and Michael decided to do. After scheduling their family vacation in Myrtle Beach for July, they decided it would be the perfect time to say I do. Their ceremony was followed by a cake cutting and toast on the beach then off to a local restaurant for a nice dinner. A larger reception was planned once they returned to Ohio.

View more pictures of Lynette & Michael's July 7, 2009 beach wedding on our web site @ www.grandoccasions-inc.com