What An Honor and Pleasant Surprise

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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.

Save-The-Date With Your Stamp of Approval

There are so many creative ways to carry a theme throughout your entire wedding celebration beginning with the save-the-date cards. Save-The-Date cards are not only a new trend they are a necessity for couples planning a destination wedding. These little gems are precursors of the fun that will be awaiting them once they arrive at the wedding venue. Family and friends will be coming from far and near and must make preparations well in advance. They will have many things to attend to: scheduling time off from work or school, making travel arrangements, planning for child or pet care,securing lodging just to mention a few.

When deciding what kind of save-the-date to choose let your imagination run wild and your guests will share your in your excitement and anticipation of the celebration! Here are a few ideas to get you started:
* postcards
* magnets
* admission tickets
* bookmarks
* calendars
* luggage tags
* paper weights
* cookies
* candy with personalized wrapper
* note pads
If you can imagine it someone can create it!
Another way to keep a theme going is with your postage stamp. Many are unaware that you can have actual postage stamps made with your picture or a design printed on them. Now you can have a stamp that actually coordinates with your save-the-date cards and invitations. They do cost a little more than the standard postage rate ($18.99 for 20 42cent stamps), but if your budget allows and if you are looking for something unique and original they might be just what you are looking for. Remember, it's the little details that make the ordinary extraordinary.

Below is a link where you can view customized postage options. Be creative and have fun!

www.usps.com/postagesolutions/customizedpostage.htm

Reflect Your Personality With The Unexpected

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Having worked with numerous couples and individuals for over 25 years in planning and consulting a variety of weddings and events, I know that no two are exactly alike. Each event has been as unique as the individual or individuals it was planned for as it should be. Your wedding day should be everything you've ever dreamed of. It should reflect your personality, style and family traditions. Gone are they days of cookie cutter weddings where nothing much changed except the color scheme. There was one kind of wedding cake, white (vanilla) and your basic reception menu was wedding cake, nuts, mints and punch. Today's weddings are full of flair, color, style and originality. Your only limitation is your imagination and of course your budget. You and your guests should still observe basic wedding etiquette and manners as you don't want your special day to become a free for all, but not so steeped in formality that they are boring, uninviting or stiff. From a small intimate gathering to the grandest affair your wedding day should be fun and enjoyable not only for you, but your guests as well. Your family and friends have come to celebrate with you and should feel welcome and comfortable. If they do your celebration is sure to be a day of rejoicing, festivity and memory making that will last a lifetime. You've waited a long time for this day so savor and enjoy every minute of it. It will go by quickly.

A former bride of mine decided to add an element of interest in an unexpected way. She went with the theme of " A Night of Romance and Dancing Under the Stars"! Instead of a traditional wedding cake she opted for an ice sculpture of a wedding cake with the top tier being an actual cake which she and the groom cut. Guests were served elegant cupcakes of their choice of two different flavors. The "Ice Cake" was displayed atop a mirrored light box which projected light through the cake and added yet another element of romance. So, put on your thinking caps and let your imagination run wild. The sky's the limit.

You've Just Said Yes!

He's just popped the question and you said Yes! You're on cloud 9. Once your head has stopped spinning and you've returned to earth you realize you are engaged! Almost as quickly as you said yes the wheels begin to turn. There are a million things running through your mind. We need to pick a date, select a venue, compile a guest list, choose attendants, find the perfect dress, what flavor cake, what style or theme, color and decor, indoor or outdoor, d.j., band or other live music, photographer, videographer, plated, buffet or hors d'oeuvres reception and the list goes on and on and on. Before you've even had a chance to announce your engagement you're exhausted with just the thought of all you have to do. RELAX! Take a deep breath and enjoy your engagement. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day and your wedding plans don't have to be completed in one either. You have as much time as you want to plan your special day and make it everything you've ever imagined it to be. Whether you decide to do all the planning your self or hire a professional to assist you, the entire process from beginning to end should be fun and exciting. Allow yourself enough time to feasibly put together the wedding you are envisioning. This will reduce stress and give you a greater selection of vendors to choose from. Prioritize and take it a step at a time. Visit your local bookstore and purchase a Wedding Planner or get a 3 ring binder and make your own using free printables available on the Internet. There are a variety of sites that allow you to print worksheets from their sites. Now would be a good time to objectively look at how much time you have to invest in the planning and coordinating process. If you are a bride who is a full-time student, a professional or who has other constraints that limit the amount of time you can invest in planning your wedding, you might want to consider hiring a Wedding Planner who can guide and direct you each step of the way. Maybe you have some time to spend on coordinating and planning, but would like help in locating and securing venues and vendors, suggestions on getting the most for your money, ceremony or reception design, negotiating contracts or other areas. Many wedding planners offer partial planning packages that allow you to do most of the planning yourself, but offer assistance when and where you need it. Maybe you have plenty of time and people to help you in the planning and coordinating process, but you would like for your friends and family to be "guests" at your wedding and not be working the day of. A day of/weekend of package might be something for you to consider. Which ever direction you choose to go remember to have fun in the process. It's your special day and it should be the very best it can be.