tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88168833774797475892024-03-12T18:50:55.096-07:00Planning Events with Less StressEverything on Event Planning and Wedding OfficiatingGreatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-52293764474982490522019-11-05T23:34:00.001-08:002019-11-05T23:34:46.783-08:00Planning Events with Less Stress: My Wedding Venue Already Has A Coordinator<a href="https://greatestofdaysweddingsandevents.blogspot.com/2019/11/my-wedding-venue-already-has-coordinator.html?spref=bl">Planning Events with Less Stress: My Wedding Venue Already Has A Coordinator</a>: There’s one assumption that many couples have about their venue when there has been one point person they have been talking to about their w...Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-30163169145862077982019-11-05T23:15:00.000-08:002019-11-05T23:15:03.227-08:00My Wedding Venue Already Has A Coordinator<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There’s one assumption that many couples have about their venue when there has been one point person they have been talking to about their wedding. Many times they will assume that is the person or another employee who will be there for their wedding to take care of any issues that come up during the wedding and reception. However, that's not the way it works. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That employee's first responsibilities are to the venue and probably other events that are taking place in the case of a hotel. There's a good chance that they are also responsible for sales which take place any day of the week. While that person might be checking in periodically, they will not be there for the entire wedding and reception. It's more likely that someone will have to search for them if an issue arises. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is one of the reasons why couples don't hire a Wedding Planner. They think that they already have someone to take care of them and any unexpected problems. You hope, but there are no guarantees that they will be there to direct vendors who are making deliveries. They won't be lining everyone up before walking down the aisle. That is what a Wedding Planner would be doing. The venue coordinator is there to take care of the basic foundations of the wedding by directing staff to do their jobs for your event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To get more information about the assumptions about weddings that can result in headaches, you can read my book <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1331843982"></span>"Wedding Planning Unmasked!"<span id="goog_1331843983"></span></a></span></div>
Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-87732349789169228962019-09-28T13:30:00.001-07:002019-09-28T13:30:07.031-07:00Planning Events with Less Stress: What Wedding Planners Can Teach Businesses About M...<a href="https://greatestofdaysweddingsandevents.blogspot.com/2019/09/what-wedding-planning-can-teach.html?spref=bl">Planning Events with Less Stress: What Wedding Planners Can Teach Businesses About M...</a>: What Wedding Planners Can Teach Businesses About Millennials? The first thing that comes to my mind is that as Wedding Planners we mark...Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-86006210443795823142019-09-28T13:11:00.000-07:002019-09-28T13:25:09.527-07:00What Wedding Planners Can Teach Businesses About Millennials<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">What Wedding Planners Can Teach Businesses About Millennials?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The first thing that comes to my mind is that as Wedding Planners we market primarily to a group that frightens many businesses. Fear comes from not taking the effort to understand something that we don’t know well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I have fallen in love with Millennials as a wedding planner and not out of necessity. I admire their thirst for research, their excellent BS meter, their ability to see a much broader picture, and their love of authenticity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">They have access to more information and more rapidly than any previous generation. Not since the 1960s has there been a generation that is more in tune with the state of the world. The more educated Millennials have a great sense of deciphering what is the truth and what is not. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Authenticity is a word you will hear often from a millennial. They appreciate the real McCoy. They want someone who talks the talk and walks the walk. They will come right up to you and tell you that they admire something about you. I find that it’s usually about the quality of volunteering to make the world a better place or leadership qualities. They don’t want to be talked at. They want to have a conversation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">People have tagged Millennials as lazy. Can you think of any generation that hasn’t been accused of such along with the generalization that they don’t show any respect? They might not have the same ambitions as their parents did because they learned from what happened to their parents. They saw them work hard only to be discarded through outsourcing or downsizing. Who would want to duplicate those events for themselves? This leads to Millennials putting a higher priority on seeking employment that is meaningful in a worker-friendly atmosphere. They also had helicopter parents and were also given awards equally just for participating. Those things alone don’t make anyone feel appreciated or confident and leave something missing within themselves. With most of them coming from families where both parents worked, you see them eager to spend quality time with their kids. It’s something they didn’t have. Their parents were working and they were kept so busy with various activities. The pendulum always swings in the opposite direction from what people experience with the previous generation. Usually, it is about time or money. Two of the most valued commodities of which one is usually scarce. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Millennials often say that their favorite past time is to just hang out at home. With real the wages being stagnant for decades, sometimes that is their only choice. More of their income is going to necessities and as a rule, they are frugal </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">If you want to market to Millennials, make it an experience that contributes to their sense of making the world a better place. Pairing up with a charity that blends in with what your business does. Again, if it looks like you are partnering with the trending cause, but it isn’t congruent with what you do as your business, the BS meter’s dial is reaching its maximum reading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Janis Flagg of <a href="https://www.greatestofdays.com/business--community-events.html" target="_blank">Greatest of Days</a> is available locally to give a presentation on marketing to Millennials to business organizations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Click the link to peek at or purchase the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Planning-Unmasked-experienced-professionals/dp/173216469X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1566319344&sr=1-1#reader_B07WJXY4QC" target="_blank">"Wedding Planning Unmasked!"</a></span></div>
Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-78088898372654164192019-09-23T21:40:00.001-07:002019-09-23T21:40:39.541-07:00Planning Events with Less Stress: A Book is Born! "Wedding Planning Unmasked!"<a href="https://greatestofdaysweddingsandevents.blogspot.com/2019/09/a-book-is-born-wedding-planning-unmasked.html?spref=bl">Planning Events with Less Stress: A Book is Born! "Wedding Planning Unmasked!"</a>: Introducing "Wedding Planning Unmasked!" The Story of Why I Wrote a Book on Wedding Planning Why would I do that when there...Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-34526905091143721722019-09-17T16:31:00.000-07:002019-09-23T21:53:30.378-07:00A Book is Born! "Wedding Planning Unmasked!"<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(69, 129, 142);"><i>Introducing "Wedding Planning Unmasked!"</i></span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(69, 129, 142); font-size: large;"><i>The Story of Why I Wrote a Book on Wedding Planning</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(69, 129, 142);">Why would I do that when there are already zillions of books on wedding planning?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wrote <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Planning-Unmasked-experienced-professionals/dp/173216469X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1566319344&sr=1-1#reader_B07WJXY4QC" target="_blank">"Wedding Planning Unmasked!"</a> because I noticed that there was a knowledge gap between couples planning a wedding and them knowing what wedding vendors could or should do for them. People don't plan a wedding every day. Couples might know someone who has planned a wedding, but it's unlikely that they </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">know 16 professional wedding vendors hired for an average wedding. Even if they did, they couldn't just get their keys, open their offices and do their job. It's not their fault, but not much is out there to guide couples for consulting with each type of vendor.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It helps couples to know what kind of services vendors provide, how they can save them money, and what questions you need to ask each vendor. Friends might give advice but it does not come from the point of planning </span><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">y</b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>our</b> wedding. Every couple deserves productive and comfortable consultations to make sure they get what they envision or understand why something might not fit their budget. There is something awkward (but perfectly normal) about a consultation that begins with "What's your budget?" and "How much do you charge?" Information is powerful. Coming from a base of knowledge also gains respect from and for everyone involved.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(120, 63, 4); color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Wedding Planning Unmasked!" was written from interviewing many wedding vendors from many types of services. They were kept anonymous so that they could reveal the good, the bad and the ugly that they felt was important for couples planning a wedding</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(120, 63, 4); color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(120, 63, 4); color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to know.</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(120, 63, 4); color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It was not written with checklists that pretty much leave you on your own, put you into a box, or make you do things you don't even need to do. There are very useful lists of questions in the book and some pretend conversations to help get through wedding planning to eliminate as much stress as possible.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(120, 63, 4); color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Take a look here at </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(120, 63, 4); color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Planning-Unmasked-experienced-professionals/dp/173216469X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1566319344&sr=1-1#reader_B07WJXY4QC" target="_blank">"Wedding Planning Unmasked!"</a> on Amazon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(120, 63, 4); color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's to unmasked wedding planning! Get ready to explore the art, science, logistics, and psychology of planning a wedding.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">P.S. if you read the book, please leave a review or see even more ways that <a href="http://www.greatestofdays.com/contact.html" target="_blank">Greatest of Days</a> can help couples plan a wedding. We will do live workshops, webinars, coaching calls and of course, full planning! </span></div>
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Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-36736621936580985152018-11-17T15:03:00.000-08:002018-11-17T17:31:54.270-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Get Ready to Rock Your Wedding Planning!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It finally happened! The manuscript for the book has been submitted to the editor! It has been a labor of love with the goal to educate couples about navigating the waters of wedding planning. It's been an effort to enable consultations that won't begin with "What's your price?" or "What's your budget?" Instead, couples will gain a practical base of knowledge grounded in the reality of what vendors do for couples. It explores what happens below the tip of the iceberg which is where the real work takes place. Couples will feel more focused on what their priorities are and feel prepared before they meet with vendors. They won't be afraid to ask for help in the areas where they want to save money, alleviate stress, or gain back some time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All vendors will remain anonymous as I wanted them to tell the unfettered truth about what they feel couples should know before a consultation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The plan is to have the book available in hardcover and on Kindle. Expect something to be popping up for purchase around the beginning of March 2019.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-54238425799154347032017-05-12T10:02:00.000-07:002017-05-14T16:36:55.612-07:00Events You Hope You Never Have To Plan<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No matter how you receive bad information, it's not easy. Sometimes you don't even remember where you were or how you received the news. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's the situation I found myself in when I found out that a friend of mine had been hit head-on by a drunk driver with the impact of a 100 MPH crash. Her car landed upside down in a ditch where she hung held only by her seatbelt for 45 minutes as first responders extricated her from the vehicle. Hanging upside down actually saved her life. She was not expected to survive. She broke both legs, her hip was shattered and detached from her spine, one wrist and her other arm were broken. She had 3 ribs broken and a broken bone in her sternum (manubrium). They didn't expect her to walk again. Most people don't survive her injuries and she did have three transfusions.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her job as a hairdresser requires the ability to stand for long periods of time and use of the arms and wrists equally if not more important. Even after six months, the future is uncertain as to when she'll be able to go back to work. </span><div><font face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">My efforts alongside those of several of other friends has been focused on planning a fundraiser. It's not like I haven't planned these types of events before. The difference is that there's an added sense of desperation when you know the person who has been hit by a drunk driver. My husband and I were also hit by a drunk driver in 2006. I have an added sense of anger. I don't know where it came from, but it felt like since we were victims that that was enough. That isn't realistic because I'd had friends injured and killed throughout my life by drunk drivers.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iouk61ww480/WRjqFpTpQPI/AAAAAAAACaw/fUXQbzHxKAEtKV0ViaQqqhljdJ2fuQq_wCHM/s640/blogger-image--1969591581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iouk61ww480/WRjqFpTpQPI/AAAAAAAACaw/fUXQbzHxKAEtKV0ViaQqqhljdJ2fuQq_wCHM/s640/blogger-image--1969591581.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The truth is this. We have to get it through people's heads that choosing to drink and then drive is not going to contribute to an accident. In reality, it's contributing to an assault with a deadly weapon. It's contributing to many losses with death being the worst among them. Survivors face losing everything from a job, their health, their finances, relationships and being able to enjoy life as they did before because of pain. It's different for everyone and so much the same.</div></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">As for planning events, in Washington State and perhaps other states, a couple getting married are considered hosts of an event. They are financially liable if any of their guests cause harm, injury or death due to them consuming alcohol at a wedding. The same goes for a party at anyone's home. Insurance is available for events, but the biggest price is knowing that someone's life could possibly never be the same again in a very negative way.<br></font>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br>There are shuttles, taxis, Uber, Lyft, limousines that take away all excuses for drinking and driving. It's not worth the risk. Many societies have zero tolerance for drinking and driving where they consume even more alcohol. We just have not accepted the responsibility as a society to put a stop to drinking and driving.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a side note, did you know that a large percentage of people think of a designated driver as someone who has drunk less than themselves? A designated driver is someone who knows from the moment they go out their door that they will not drink any alcoholic beverages at all. If you find it difficult to tell someone not to drive after drinking, remember how much worse it will feel when you've lost a friend or heard that they injured or killed someone. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wishing you the greatest of days!<br></span>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Clients will relate various fears or concerns that they have during a consultation for officiating their wedding ceremony. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You might relate to some of these issues, but</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> n</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ever fear! Your officiant should help you with any of these fears. Here are some things to remember that can take the edge off of the nervousness. </span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>1. I don't like to be the center of attention! I get really nervous speaking in front of people and I don't want to say any more than I have to. What if someone makes a stupid remark during the ceremony?</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You are likely in front of the most people who love and care about you more than any other day of your life. Even the people who might have made it rough on you during the planning stages will get into the moment and might even shed a tear or two. They will probably treat you better than during the planning because they want to save face! As far as unwanted remarks, your officiant should be professional and not let anyone else steal from your moment. An officiant can put themselves in a position of authority just enough to stop the comments depending upon the severity of the comments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Rehearsal!</span></i> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Rehearsals take longer than ceremonies for good reason. They are designed to make everyone comfortable with what they are supposed to do on the wedding day. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is the time to make minor ceremony changes, not later! </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Use the rehearsal to familiarize yourself with the environment and ask questions. Put other members of the bridal party in charge for your wedding day of letting those who weren't able to attend the rehearsal to on what to do. This would include how everyone who will be standing up with you is supposed to walk in, line up, and walk out before during and after the ceremony. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>A little bit of nervousness is good!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You're expected to be a little nervous. Chances are that many of your guests have been through the same experience. They will put themselves in your shoes when recalling their own wedding. Others might not have had their weddings yet, so they'll get their turn to find out how nervous they might be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The most important thing to tell yourself, is that something would be wrong and you might not be taking your marriage seriously enough if you aren't just a little bit nervous. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A nice deep breath when you begin to feel anxious. Remember that excitement can give you an adrenaline rush and that's okay. Cherish every moment of your entire day and have it etched in your memory. </span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. I just know I'm going to cry, but what if I can't stop laughing either?</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> If he/she starts crying I know I will, too!</span></i></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Crying and Laughing</span></i></b> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Your officiant should be prepared for tears and provide tissues to give to you and even a member or two of your wedding party.</span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Nobody will think</span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">less of you for crying. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Laughter is the best medicine. It also makes your guests relax. Granted, it might be unplanned humor, but laughing at yourself will help you relax rather than wanting everything to be perfect. The best part is that those moments become some of your most cherished memories. Remember that crying and laughing are normal and chemically their effects are very similar. They are healthy!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>3. What if I pass out?</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you plan on drinking a lot after the rehearsal, you might want to reconsider that decision. It's not usually the heat or nervousness that leads to this particular problem. Stay hydrated and remember that alcoholic beverages do just the opposite.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.greatestofdays.com/officiating.html" target="_blank">Wishing you the greatest of days</a>!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-26015918507329791822016-10-01T16:14:00.000-07:002016-10-01T16:27:32.854-07:00Event Planners Keep Company with Great People, But They Don't Do This!<div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes, annually, we keep good company with those in the top five most stressful jobs. You can count on us being surrounded by firefighters, airline pilots, enlisted military, police officers and other similar professions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One thing that each of the other individuals above does not have to keep up with is having a website built as part of their profession. An independent event planner does. I found my web designer because they primarily create custom wedding and other event invitations. I am fortunate enough to have them in my own backyard near Seattle and they aren't very far from the airport. I would suggest that anyone from Seattle, since you know your way to the airport, make a trip to see them in Burien. T<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">hey have clients from all over the world. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well, if you have ever had a website built, you know how excited you are for the big reveal! I was surprised how quickly they got it done! It was amazing! I would suggest visiting <a href="http://www.citlalicreative.com/">www.citlalicreative.com</a> for one of a kind invitations that they make. I love going to their shop because it is a feast to the eyes to see their vast variety of designs! You aren't allowed to take pictures in their store either. It's like a surprise entrance to an abundance of creativity.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So here's my invitation for you to visit our new baby website. No commas in that last sentence or it would be an entirely different celebration. I assume no one names their baby Website. I would certainly hope not. I guess they could call him Webb. Here you go! <a href="http://www.greatestofdays.com/">www.greatestofdays.com</a></span></div>
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Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-32955940277181137012016-09-10T14:50:00.001-07:002016-09-10T14:50:30.260-07:00Planning Events with Less Stress: Plato and Event Planning<a href="http://greatestofdaysweddingsandevents.blogspot.com/2016/09/plato-and-event-planning.html?spref=bl">Planning Events with Less Stress: Plato and Event Planning</a>: I agree with Plato's observation! You'll find out what that is and why a little later. Why do I feel so at home in the events Ind...Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-21915763152223739322016-09-10T14:41:00.000-07:002016-09-10T14:41:02.210-07:00Plato and Event Planning<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I agree with Plato's observation! You'll find out what that is and why a little later. Why do I feel so at home in the events Industry? To me, my industry represents the opposite of personality traits in people that I prefer not to be around. You won't find me hanging around glass half-full people any more than necessary. If a person cannot enjoy a good brainstorming session, I'm out of there. If someone is satisfied with the status quo, I'm not their type of person. If you can't have fun in whatever you want to endeavor, I'd rather be of help elsewhere. In the events industry, we take fun very seriously. Is that similar to an oxymoron? No. We are all about our clients being able to cash in on the Return on Experience (ROX) as much or more than Return on Investment. You can read more about experiential marketing being an absolute must if you are marketing to Millennials.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The events industry requires people who:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Believe any idea can come to life! They will dare you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Believe that stupid questions are required to come up with the best ideas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Believe if something has been done before, there has to be a more spectacular way to do it now or next time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Believe that each event is the most important day in their client's life no matter what the event is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Can anticipate problems before anyone else even dreams of what can happen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Thrive on turning on a dime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Thrive on converting problems into solutions that look intentional with spectacular results that will knock your socks off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do I get bored at events I <b>attend</b> for business? Except for my industry's hosted events and meetings, I cannot even <i><u>b e g i n</u></i> to tell you how bored I've been sometimes. If a topic is about the nuts and bolts of business, I can't wait to get out of there and do something creative. I've found that cut and paste solutions will not work for me. If I hear the sound of numbers crunching, it's like nails on a chalkboard. You might ask, "How can you run a business without all of that?" Here's why those don't matter as much to me. If I am not in a creative, inspirational, fun space, there will be no numbers to crunch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It all boils down to being either right-brained or left-brained. Creativity, or having a positive outlook come easier for some than others. We are predominantly right-brained in the events industry. I think everyone is a bit of <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">right-brained and left</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> left-brained in different situations, but people are predominantly one way or the other. I have to share this link with you that will also explain<a href="http://www.funderstanding.com/brain/right-brain-vs-left-brain/" target="_blank"> right vs. left brain</a>. (<i>I want you to pay particular attention to the name of the website!)</i> The current job market seeks people who can be both. Employers prefer that someone have a degree in the humanities (Arts and Sciences) and then teach them about an industry. They want people who can create, think and solve. If they have people who can make projects fun, just think of the abundance of ideas that would overflow!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love it when someone says to me that planning or designing an event gives them nightmares. Those are my dream jobs. You know what is even more amazing? It's showing that same person that they absolutely are creative! It's my responsibility to bring it out of them. Granted, it's somewhat like being a mid-wife, but creativity can be born. <i>"You can do it! Just breathe. Not too much longer now! Push! Aaaah! It's beautiful! I'm so proud of you! Good job! What are you going to name it?" </i>They will never doubt their creativity again and will be rewarded time after time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As promised, I want to impress upon you this thought. That guy named Plato summed it up very well (yes, he did that a lot). He said, <i>"You can learn more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation"</i>. So here's to "if you can't have fun doing something, don't do it!" Aha! I bet we know why people have been conducting business on golf courses forever!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I get some flack for using too many exclamation marks. Do I care? No! However, I would describe my industry as an exclamation mark industry! Don't be afraid to put exclamation marks in your life or business. Your customers will appreciate it and remember you. Your students will learn and remember more. Your audience will listen and remember you. You'll feel better </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">‼️‼️</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Period. End of sentence! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.greatestofdays.com/" target="_blank">Wishing you the greatest of days!</a></i></span></div>
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Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-30262868538467570172016-09-05T01:43:00.000-07:002016-09-05T01:43:37.117-07:00Event-Changing Event Vendors Who Are Often Overlooked<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All too often people who plan their own events are unaware of vendors that could make a huge difference in the success or the stress level of their social or business event. For weddings, the most common regrets include not hiring a wedding planner or a videographer. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Statistics show that they are also the last vendors to be hired.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In fact, the most common time for people wishing they had hired a wedding planner is the day before the wedding or the day after the wedding. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I dare say, that the same applies for any type of event. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People avoid hiring event planners because they think it will cost too much money. In reality, (same with my own clients) people are surprised at how much money event planners actually save them. This happens through connections that the event planner has such as with new venues that are offering deep discounts, knowledge of options that are just as effective but cost less, knowing which questions to ask that can save thousands of dollars, helping people set priorities and stay with a plan. Even using the wrong word can make all the difference. Event planners also know what their clients are probably assuming about what is included in a vendor's services and chances are, it is more likely wishful thinking rather than fact. A mistake not made is money saved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What does daycare have to do with it?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to mention some vendors that people seldom, if ever, think about that would make a huge difference in the stress level on the day of their event. Most commonly, we think of events as weddings, but I want you to stretch your mind to any event you might be planning. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's begin with </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">onsite</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> day care. If you don't think that addition will increase your Rsvp return rate, think again. There are people who will provide licensed day care at your event. Some of them only work at events! Some colleges have programs that can also help people out with providing onsite daycare.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just imagine the gratitude for this service being offered at a client or employee appreciation event! Literally, any event that involves parents with children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How in the world are dogs, wedding ceremonies and honeymoons related?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all know how crazy pet owners are over their furry family members with four feet. Who hasn't seen a picture of a dog playing the role of ring bearer? Has anyone wondered what the role of the dog is after that or who is going to take care of them? There are pet sitters who will deliver your dog to your wedding and stay long enough to take the dog back to a person's house or at their facility. This is especially helpful if the dog is going to be boarded there during a couple's honeymoon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It might be harder to think of this service being offered in a business setting. Now that would be one perk many employees would appreciate. Paying for your employee's pet care while they are on busin</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ess trips? A person can dream, can't they?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We know that for almost every task a person dreads doing, there is someone who loves doing that same thing, and you can hire them. Set up and tear down at an event is a big one! For large events involving family and friends, I have to warn the client that in reality seldom do these people live up to your expectations. Add alcohol to the mix and you really diminish your odds of having help at the end of any event. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Think beyond custodial services. There are companies that will help you set up the tables and chairs, decor and the things that make you exhausted before your event even starts. If you are saving money on a venue that does not provide those services, these people are worth their weight in gold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-83052595785571822672016-08-29T13:20:00.001-07:002016-08-29T13:20:20.484-07:00Planning Events with Less Stress: Weddings with Rocks, Roses, Sand, Wine Boxes, Broo...<a href="http://greatestofdaysweddingsandevents.blogspot.com/2016/08/weddings-with-rocks-roses-sand-wine.html?spref=bl">Planning Events with Less Stress: Weddings with Rocks, Roses, Sand, Wine Boxes, Broo...</a>: In Washington State there are only two statements that have to be included in wedding ceremonies to make the marriage legal as long as the p...Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-79979833856230411502016-08-29T13:05:00.001-07:002016-08-29T13:05:33.941-07:00Weddings with Rocks, Roses, Sand, Wine Boxes, Broo...<a href="http://greatestofdaysweddingsandevents.blogspot.com/2016/08/weddings-with-rocks-roses-sand-wine.html?spref=bl">Planning Events with Less Stress: Weddings with Rocks, Roses, Sand, Wine Boxes, Broo...</a>: In Washington State there are only two statements that have to be included in wedding ceremonies to make the marriage legal as long as the p...Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-310947343105825382016-08-29T12:37:00.001-07:002016-08-29T12:37:34.979-07:00Weddings with Rocks, Roses, Sand, Wine Boxes, Brooms and Cording!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Washington State there are only two statements that have to be included in wedding ceremonies to make the marriage legal as long as the person marrying them is qualified to perform the ceremony. The "Do you take" and "Do you take" statements are to prove that neither person is entering the marriage under duress. The other required statement is simply with them being declared as husband and wife, husband and husband or wife and wife, spouses for life, whatever the case may be. If these two statements are not recited or duplicated in some manner, Washington State technically, does not recognize the marriage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seldom does anyone want a ceremony with only the two required phrases. At the minimum there are the so-called love, honor, cherish vows and the inclusion of some kind of ring ceremony. Beyond that, is where the uniqueness that most couples crave comes into play for their own weddings. So let's talk a bit about how <b><i>sand, rocks,</i></b> <i><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">candles, </b></i><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>wine boxes, roses, oathing stones, brooms, and cording</b></i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> accomplish that for a wedding ceremony. Keep in mind that these are just starting points and that many couples add personalization to personalization! People often enjoy borrowing customs from other cultures. As a wedding officiant, this keeps things very interesting!</span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sand Ceremony</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sand Ceremony involves at least two colors of sand that are usually placed in two glass containers and poured together by a couple or two or more family members into one container signifying that two lives or two families being blended together can never be separated. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Rock Ceremony is unique and includes guest participation. For example, there would be a rock set on every chair and the guests hold the rock in their hands and make a wish for the happiness of the bride and groom and their life together. The guests then place their "wish" into a container. I've seen the bride and groom place the first rocks in the bottom of a box on which they've written faith, hope and love on them representing a good foundation and all the others wishes built upon that. I suggested this type of ceremony for one couple whose wedding was outdoors and they hadn't thought about the consequences of having programs on each chair. Obviously, they would not stay on the chairs and needed a paperweight! It took on a very special meaning because for generations the bride's family had a cabin on Flathead Lake. That lake is known for the stones there that are flat. A family member delivered enough rocks from their cabin to be used for the ceremony. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>The Unity Candle Ceremony</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the ceremony that most people are familiar with, but is not used as often because of most venues banning the use of candles. Two candles are lit and are either used by the couple getting married or perhaps both of the couple's mothers who then light a single candle signifying the uniting of two families. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Wine Box Ceremony has at least a couple of variations as far as its purpose. The couple will write a letter describing their love for their future spouse and during the ceremony, each will place their letter into the wine box which has already had a bottle of wine placed in it. Here's where the purposes can vary. Some couples open the box on their first anniversary and read the letters to each other and celebrate with a glass of wine. Other couples will save it for their first fight and read the letters to remind themselves of their love for each other and again relax with a bottle of wine.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Rose Ceremony is one that can be used in a variety of ways, but the most traditional rose ceremony involves the bride and groom taking a rose during the ceremony and giving it to their now mother-in-law. Again, it is a symbol of blending two families.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Oathing Stone ceremony originates from Celtic tradition. A bride and groom would place their hands on a large stone often near a river which would be considered a connection to their ancestors. They would sometimes etch their names in the stone. This is also how carving initials in trees began. Today, couples can buy a stone with their initials carved into it. At their wedding ceremony they both hold together in their hands the stone while the vows are being read. This would be difficult with vows they had written rather than listening to and responding with short phrases during a ceremony.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Broomstick ceremony has its origins in parts of Africa. Over many centuries, the significance of the broom changed in meaning. However, it was one tradition that survived during slavery. That in itself made the broom ceremony one which became more of a bad reminder of that era. After Alex Haley's book and movie <u>Roots</u>, were was made famous in the 1970's, the interest in this tradition was rekindled. It was and is also common in ancient and modern Celtic wedding ceremonies. At a wedding, after the couple has been pronounced as a married couple, they both jump over the broom at the same time. Now it represents the beginning of a new life together. Ancient African meanings were not so charming in that whomever jumped over the broom the highest was to be the "ruler" of the household. (I would have said, "Ladies, practice jumping...really high!")</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Handfasting Ceremony in another tradition from the Celtics. Again there are many variations of this type of ceremony. A cord or ribbon is used to bind together a couple's hands with the cord or ribbon binding wrapped once more over their hands for each vow that is recited. This is literally where the expression "tying the knot" originated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could go into much more detail on the blending of cultures in wedding ceremonies, but that will have to wait until another time. Including one of our funniest wedding officiating stories ever! 💝</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As always, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.greatestofdays.com/weddingofficiating.html" target="_blank">Wishing you the greatest of days!</a></i></span></div>
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Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-89591791115719160662016-08-21T15:29:00.001-07:002016-08-21T15:29:52.564-07:00Planning Events with Less Stress: What Does a Wedding Officiant Really Do?<a href="http://greatestofdaysweddingsandevents.blogspot.com/2016/08/what-does-wedding-officiant-really-do.html?spref=bl">Planning Events with Less Stress: What Does a Wedding Officiant Really Do?</a>: There are many fabulous wedding officiants in the Seattle area. I have great respect for all of them. In some parts of the country, offici...Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-20622055929577624922016-08-21T15:28:00.001-07:002016-08-21T15:28:33.304-07:00What Does a Wedding Officiant Really Do?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are many fabulous wedding officiants in the Seattle area. I have great respect for all of them. In some parts of the country, officiants are not even considered to be wedding vendors. Perhaps it's such a foregone conclusion that someone is going to be in that role. Perhaps it's the seriousness of the role that makes officiants seem different from other vendor choices. We aren't an optional decision when it comes to weddings. Someone has to make the marriage legal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently, I was speaking about statistics with someone from a lead site. They send vendors comparison reports on how much time it takes for the average vendor to respond. They also will say if your prices are higher and lower than others. I was concerned and in disagreement with them that I was higher priced than others when I know what industry standards are for Officiants in our area. However, I was very pleased with how our conversation continued. The vendor service representative then said something that I hope I remember in the future for other business decisions. She said, "Most of the officiants charge less but our best performing officiants are in a higher price range similar to yours". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We discussed reasons for that. The first was the introductory response and how well it is written. On this particular lead site, you only have 1,000 characters including spaces to help someone feel comfortable and confident enough to inquire further about hiring you on one of the most important days in their life. The second contributing factor of success was followup. Yes, even for wedding officiants followup is as much of an issue as it is for any other type of entrepreneur.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Time is our biggest investment. There's a lot of work that goes into preparing a special ceremony. With the initial consultation (60-90 minutes), the goal is to reach the essence of their relationship. The consultation needs to include topics from how they met, what a typical date is like, their hobbies, interests and how their personalities blend. I want to know who is better at leading and being practical and who is better is a supporting and encouraging role. My favorite clue into what makes them unique is hearing about their marriage proposal. Many people meet online, and those stories can sometimes seem like a miracle that they even got to know each other. The goal is to create a ceremony that reflects a couple's personality and hopes for the future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then the work begins. I generally have enough to know what kind of ceremony they would like. I know if they will be what my husband affectionately termed as "repeaters or non-repeaters". Non-repeaters are lucky to get the words "I do" out and don't want to remember even the shortest phrases. Other couples will say, "Why have a wedding ceremony if we aren't going to write our own vows?" No two weddings are alike just as no two couples are alike. I can't forget to mention rehearsals! Rehearsals are often very confusing without an officiant. Writing a ceremony is somewhat like writing the first chapter in a book. The rest of the story is for the couple to compose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't ever want to fall into the class of "cheap officiants". Putting my heart and soul into getting a glimpse into the heart and soul of my couples is priceless. It's more than just a legality or a contract to be recognized by a county and state and making sure everyone signs and dates on the right line. Much more!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes officiants often are placed in the role of a wedding planner even though it can appear like they are herding rabbits! Are there really rabbit herders? Doubt it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.greatestofdays.com/WeddingOfficiating.html" target="_blank">Wishing you the greatest of days!</a></i></span></div>
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Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-46949149690711604672016-08-08T06:00:00.000-07:002016-08-08T07:26:32.932-07:00Waiting to Officiate a Wedding This Afternoon<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm still home but my mind is already at the wedding I'm officiating this afternoon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unlike the average couple getting married, I'm not nervous as their officiant. Instead, I find myself in awe of the privilege I have with just the right words, to create a legal bond between two people that is already built on love. We had the rehearsal yesterday, and I know that today I might not even recognize them because of the hair and makeup on the ladies and with the gents being all dressed up rather than in tank tops and shorts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll finish this after the ceremony and while I still have my day-long smile, I'll have yet another flower girl or adorable ring bearer story to tell. Until then, I cannot wait to see who I hand out the tissues to. They are often given to the ones who don't think they'll need them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Post Wedding Ceremony Update!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I predicted correctly that I'd have another flower girl or ring bearer story to tell! In fact there were some firsts for me! When kids do or don't do their jobs in these roles, it's still cute! So what were these firsts? Let's start with the flower girl. <b>Twice</b> during the ceremony she walked from where </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the bridesmaids were over to the bride and said, "Just kiss!!" Who couldn't laugh at that? I didn't know if the bride was going to be able to compose herself! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Okay, now for the ring bearer. He had a meltdown outside of the building and was face down on the deck drinking milk. We were a little concerned that he would not want to hang onto a pillow so they tied the rings onto his favorite stuffed toy, Pluto. Someone had to go out to the deck to get Pluto with the rings. Here's the other first! The Best Man got to hold Pluto during the wedding ceremony! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In all these years of officiating weddings, I've only been wrong with one wedding. How's that? I know that the groom is going to shed the tears first. Once again, I was right. I never get tired of seeing tender moments like that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As always,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.greatestofdays.com/WeddingOfficiating.html" target="_blank">Wishing you the greatest of days!</a></i></span></div>
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Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-40644452721550740252016-08-01T07:00:00.000-07:002016-08-01T17:51:34.192-07:00Preventing "Are You Ready to Leave Yet?" at Your Events.<br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;">For Any Event, Prevent This! "Are You Ready to Leave Yet?"</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You might know someone or maybe that someone is yourself who is ready to leave an event before it has even started. I kind of feel that way about surgery, but some people feel that way about events and weddings. I don't know if it's the opposite of the way kids can be on a road trip and they are saying, "Are we there, yet?" or maybe they grow up to be adults wanting to leave any event early. You know who they usually are. Typically it's a husband leaning sideways toward his wife's ear to say, "Are you ready to leave yet?" If it's really bad he might say, "I'll be out in the car".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When you're hosting an event you've obviously put a lot of time, money, thought and energy into something that will not last nearly as long. A host will often feel disappointed or like a failure if their guests leave early. Everyone should host an event to see what that might feel like. For a business event, it can feel like a failure to meet your ROI. (Return on Investment) but it's not really a good measure for that. There are a couple of simple things that will make people stay longer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: right;">For a social event, I found one thing that works to keep even the most reluctant attendees from leaving early! In my experience, it's been having an ice cream cart or truck. Trucks are better in hot weather, obviously. Ben and Jerry's (my favorite) is only one of similar operations. Dessert trucks are great, too. </span><u style="text-align: right;">Everyone</u><span style="text-align: right;"> becomes a kid again and will find ways to get in line multiple times to try each flavor in a cone. Then, little justification is needed to try another flavor without a cone. It reminds me of variables and probability.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">Remember the cone holds the ice cream, but the ice cream holds the power!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Music is another key to having people linger. Music affects more areas of the brain and will also make people remember your event. When I'm helping a client plan an event, I frequently go into a science lesson as to why this is the case. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Remember these simple tricks that will make your guests want to stay longer whether they know the reason or not!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As always,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.greatestofdays.com/" target="_blank">Wishing you the greatest of days!</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 247px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 1155px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 247px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 1155px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-60840058508182733002016-07-27T23:47:00.001-07:002016-07-27T23:47:29.967-07:00Planning a Wedding During Sadness or Tragedy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">When Sad Things Happen During Good Times</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most people agree that planning a wedding can be stressful even during the best of circumstances. We know that the world continues to turn even though you might be in the middle of planning a wedding and sometimes that includes events that happen in life that are very happy events, painfully sad or extremely frightening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For years as a Wedding Planner I had a chance to see a large mixture of what life can hand down even at any time when someone is planning a wedding. These are things that most couples don't have to worry about, but life is a balance and gives us good and bad, happy and sad mixed up like trail mix. Life is a path. It's just the way life is and if a person can see the good that is always happening in some form or another, it helps tremendously. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I admired the individuals so much for their strength who go through two of life's major events at once. Sometimes I saw people move up a wedding just so a loved one who was in the process of dying could experience their wedding. I also saw when, even with a rushed plan in place, it wasn't fast enough to make that final wish come true. I saw bittersweet moments as a couple sped up a wedding before a deployment. I couldn't help but feel that emotion and would often think of those who were deployed for the next year or so and hoped I would hear good news. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">family experienced a birth and a death within less than a week before the wedding. I've even had weddings I worked and found out that they had already had a small wedding so that their loved who had since passed away, could witness the wedding.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>"We just don't talk about it....but we probably should".</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seldom does anyone talk about the normal emotions that are experienced during the wedding planning process, let alone when a death or other tragedy strikes during this time. Even under normal circumstances, I've attributed the odd behavior of otherwise normal people to the fact that people are grieving even when there isn't any death around the time of a wedding. Grieving is a process that just is an adjustment to major changes. It is often filled up with fear of the unknown. We never know what a person is going through from a loss even when the loss might appear to be minimal to others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Things you might feel when an accident, disease or death happens before the wedding to a friend or family member you are close to.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Feeling guilty to be planning something that is happy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Feeling unsettled in being happy and sad at the same time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. Feeling angry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. Feeling totally confused on what to do, how to act, or whether you should postpone the wedding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. Feeling of overwhelm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. Feeling of appreciation for your spouse-to-be who is showing and giving you support.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7. Feeling that your future spouse just doesn't understand what you are going through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8. Getting a new perspective on life that is putting you into serious analysis mode.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9. A feeling of strength gained from a challenge unlike any you have experienced before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10. A feeling of wanting to pay respect to your lost or missing loved one at your wedding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How can you blend a remembrance with a wedding?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every individual experiences grief in their own way. As much as your loved one would have wanted you to be very happy on your wedding day, there are bound to be some bittersweet moments. It would be assumed that a wedding should not be a second memorial service, but it's perfectly understandable if a tribute is made in a loving manner. It might be a matter of placing a rose on an empty chair. Perhaps carrying a flower or flowers that represent your loved one's who are no longer living can feel like they are close to your heart on your wedding day. I've seen grooms do something similar with their boutonieres. I've also seen people place pictures of their ancestors in little picture frames on the cake table. There are many ways to incorporate remembering a loved on your very important day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tears and laughter can be almost the same emotion sometimes. It's your body's way of getting you through the good and the bad stress. Indeed, there are happy stresses and sad stresses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't hesitate to get your wedding officiant's advice on these matters and see how you can actually turn the negatives into something beautiful and meaningful for you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.greatestofdays.com/" target="_blank">Wishing you the greatest of days!</a></span></div>
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Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-27094914089907965172016-07-18T07:00:00.000-07:002016-07-18T07:00:03.702-07:00Wedding Etiquette Has Changed<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #45818e;">Wedding Etiquette Has Changed</span></i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wedding etiquette does change over time, and some of it needs to come back as a reminder. </span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>What Shall I Wear?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Every now and then I'll have someone say that they were surprised when they went to a wedding and a lot of the guests and even the bridal party were wearing black! It's very common for black to be one of the major wedding colors. My first question to them is was there a particular cultural aspect to the wedding. While black attire is bad for some cultures, white attire is taboo in other cultures regarding weddings. Also, when the economy is bad, bridesmaid dresses are shorter and wedding colors are darker during times of war. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For most American weddings it is acceptable to wear black and is considered to have a very sophisticated look. People attending an average American wedding would be more appalled if someone wore white. My best advice before you attend any wedding when there is a culture represented that you aren't familiar with, is to do your homework. I'm sure your friend or family member won't mind if you take enough interest to ask them specifically what you should wear. I could have a year's worth of blog posts just on wedding traditions from different cultures. When you think that you might have that figured out, you will also find that couples are borrowing aspects from all kinds of cultures. Just be glad you don't live in an unmentioned Mediterranean country where the groom has to walk around with a fish tied to his leg for an entire day before the wedding. People have actually asked me if the fish has to be dead. Yes, fish need water and the groom isn't walking around in water.</span></div>
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<b style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Registries Have Cha</i></b><b style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>nged!</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some people are appalled that a couple actually had the nerve to have a honeymoon registry. There are some very good reasons for having a honeymoon registry. The average ages for a couple to get married now are 27 and 29. They are delaying marriage for a number of reasons and many times it is because of financial reasons. Many of them have had college debt, have chosen first to buy a home together or they have had other things they wanted to accomplish before getting married. In the meantime, they have acquired enough or more of the household items that they need. However, they probably haven't put their focus on saving for a honeymoon. With honeymoon registries, guests can purchase as a gift to go towards anything from tours, dinners, local highlights or a luxurious spa and even upgrades. We live in an experience economy which is particularly popular with millennials.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Etiquette for the 21st Century That Needs to Change or Is Changing!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you haven't heard of unplugged weddings, you will and it can't come soon enough! We live daily with cell phones or tablets and most of them can take pictures. This is the reason why photographers love me. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When I officiate weddings, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(with a couple's permission) </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the first announcement I make before a groom even walks down the aisle is an announcement to this effect. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>"On behalf of the ___ and ___ I am asking that you turn off all electronic devices in the form of cameras or cell phones. ___ and ___ have paid for a professional photographer to take pictures during their ceremony and other cameras in use interfere with their lighting. It also creates a safety concern if the doesn't know if everyone is seated or not. Electronic devices also interfere with the sound system. Thank you for your consideration!"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let's get real here! A photographer was not hired to photograph someone's backside, flabby arms, tablet or the latest selfie stick! Some things just can't be edited out! It's a shame for perfect shots to get ruined by someone else's self-absorbed behavior. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Rsvp's...</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That's all I'm going to say about them. I've written several blog posts on that hot little topic. I tell my clients about the service I offer to get people to turn in their Rsvp's with a better rate of return and much more quickly. That's my trade secret and no one gets hurt in the process, by the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wishing you the greatest of days!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Janis Flagg</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.greatestofdays.com/" target="_blank">Greatest of Days</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Event Planning</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wedding Officiating</span></div>
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Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-21870427494824102892016-06-03T22:08:00.000-07:002016-06-03T22:10:17.469-07:00Don't Think You Need a Wedding Rehearsal? Think again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>If You Think You Don't Need a Rehearsal, Think again!</b><br />
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First, here are some definitions for you and terms of reference. Also, Bride and Groom are interchangeable with the word couple. </div>
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<b>The Processional</b> is the part of the wedding when typically the officiant, the groom, all of the attendants including the ring bearer and flowergirl <i><b>proceed</b></i> to the ceremony or altar area followed by the bride with whomever is giving her away.</div>
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<b>The Recessional </b>is the part just after the couple is introduced to the "audience" when the couple first leaves the stage/ceremony area/altar followed by the bridal party and family.<br />
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<b>Here are some benefits and recommendations regarding rehearsals:</b></div>
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<b>Rehearsal Benefits (processional and recessional)</b></div>
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1. It helps calm everyone's nerves feeling that they have a good idea of what will happen leading up to, during and immediately after the ceremony on your wedding day.</div>
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2. On your wedding day, the fewer questions you have to answer the better. You don't want everyone bombarding you on your wedding day.</div>
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3. It will give you an idea of timing your processional to the music. Even though a DJ often cannot attend a rehearsal due to possibly having multiple weddings on a weekend, you need to discuss options for timing of your processional. Your DJ might want to preview the venue with you months or weeks in advance of the wedding, if they haven't worked at your venue. Timing can be effected with the length of the aisle and the number of people (alone or in pairs) walking up to the ceremony area. </div>
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4. It's not uncommon for people in your wedding party to be complete strangers to each other. They get a chance to at least recognize each other's faces on the wedding day.</div>
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5. <b>Practicing the recessional is important, too. </b>As a rule of thumb, I recommend that following the ceremony (after being pronounced to their new status and <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">after they are introduced to everyone</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">) that the newly married couple gets to walk the <b>full</b> length of the aisle before the rest of the bridal party. This allows every opportunity for them to be photographed at the first moments of them walking down the aisle with their first steps or happy dance as a married couple. Next to go down the aisle would be the Maid of Honor and Bestman who would walk <b>halfway</b> down the aisle before the next pair of the bridal party begins walking. </span></div>
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6. If you have any major announcements, the most important people in your wedding are there. They can be your ambassadors to spread necessary information to others on your actual wedding day.</div>
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1. Make sure you are evenly spaced at the ceremony area. I sometimes start the rehearsal with everyone at the ceremony area first.</div>
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2. To make the pictures look nice, it should be predetermined that the guys have their hands placed in front of them or behind their backs.</div>
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3. Anyone carrying bouquets should place them (in simple terms) at their belly button! The exception would be if the bridesmaids were cradling a larger single, long-stemmed flower to the inside of their elbow instead of a bouquet. (in the crook of their arm but still, they should look uniform during the ceremony).</div>
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4. It looks nicer if everyone stands to form a slight arc and not look like little tin soldiers. If everyone takes a half step sideways towards the "audience" and slightly angles to be looking at the officiant and couple, it looks good but it also is important to be able to see subtle clues from the officiant during the ceremony. It sometimes helps to line up on the stage or ceremony area so that attendants can have eye contact with their counterparts. For example, the Best Man and Maid of Honor would be able to have eye contact and the same with everyone else down the two lines.</div>
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5. If for some reason one of your attendants, is unable to attend the rehearsal, make sure that the person that they will be walking with them is introduced to them on the wedding day. Preferably they are introduced in advance of pictures that are often taken prior to the ceremony. Whoever was able to be at the rehearsal should fill that person or persons in on what is going to take place during the processional, how everyone is going to be standing during the ceremony and the same with the recessional.</div>
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6. It's not a bad idea to ask people to not treat the night before your big day like it's a bachelor or bachelorette party. What they drink that evening directly influences the wedding the next day. Nothing wastes the rehearsal or mars a wedding more than one or more of the wedding party getting drunk. It's time for everyone to at least pretend to be mature and respectful but still have fun. </div>
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<b>Order of a processional for a traditional modern American ceremony. It can vary from one religion to another, be customized or adapted depending on the venue layout. Nothing is written in stone anymore for most weddings, but it's nice to have some guidelines. Neither the order of seating nor the recessional is shown in the diagram.</b><br />
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<i>Wishing you the greatest of days!</i></div>
Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-33508446857941667372016-05-03T16:17:00.001-07:002016-05-03T16:17:05.488-07:00Planning Events with Less Stress: Pulling the Plug on Plugged Wedding Ceremonies<a href="http://greatestofdaysweddingsandevents.blogspot.com/2016/05/pulling-plug-on-plugged-wedding.html?spref=bl">Planning Events with Less Stress: Pulling the Plug on Plugged Wedding Ceremonies</a>: Pulling the Plug on Plugged Wedding Ceremonies! Okay, here we have it. There are two big reasons why people are choosing unplugged w...Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816883377479747589.post-22923736308925991362016-05-03T15:42:00.000-07:002016-05-03T15:42:14.101-07:00Pulling the Plug on Plugged Wedding Ceremonies<br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pulling the Plug on Plugged Wedding Ceremonies!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, here we have it. There are two big reasons why people are choosing unplugged weddings. In case you don't know what an unplugged wedding is, it is when no electronic devices are allowed other than for those who have been hired or chosen to take pictures or operate the sound system. </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>~~Number 1~~</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I officiate weddings. When one wedding photographer asked me before a wedding if the wedding was going to be unplugged, I said, "I always talk about that with my couples and I've had no one refuse my suggestion to have an unplugged wedding! That's the first announcement I make before anyone walks down the aisle". That particular photographer looked over to the other photographer and said, "We love her, don't we!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When guests are taking pictures it interferes with the photographer's lighting. They want to do the very best job possible and then someone comes out of the woodwork and snaps a picture. So much for setting up that perfect shot! At a wedding, there are some moments you just cannot recapture! Professional photographers will give you a link to pictures that your guests can download. As you'll see below it's also very dangerous to get in the way of a photographer..for the guest and the photographer.</span></div>
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<b style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>~~Number 2~~</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second reason is that the cameras, cell phones and what have you, interfere with with the sound system. I don't pretend to know all of the technical reasons for that, but it's been confirmed by many professional DJ's. I'm happy to not have the sound messed up when I'm officiating a wedding!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoy the other reasons to have an unplugged wedding!</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CEpbSgBJsfM/Vykg9MxhJ5I/AAAAAAAABW8/pssrsO08Fuoj5k7E8bCGBcWsRmoeU241QCLcB/s1600/Welcome%2Bto%2Bour%2Bunplugged%2Bwedding%2521We%2527ve%2Bpaid%2Bfor%2Ba%2Bphotographer%2Bto%2Btake%2Bour%2Bpictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CEpbSgBJsfM/Vykg9MxhJ5I/AAAAAAAABW8/pssrsO08Fuoj5k7E8bCGBcWsRmoeU241QCLcB/s640/Welcome%2Bto%2Bour%2Bunplugged%2Bwedding%2521We%2527ve%2Bpaid%2Bfor%2Ba%2Bphotographer%2Bto%2Btake%2Bour%2Bpictures.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Wishing you the <a href="http://www.greatestofdays.com/WeddingOfficiating.html" target="_blank">greatest of days!</a></i></span></div>
Greatest of Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816568125813085528noreply@blogger.com0