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Follow the fabulous lives of the Firefly team, see our client’s testimonials and take a sneak peak at our events, weddings and any other special events.
Chelsea Clinton, 30, and her fiancé Marc Mezvinsky, 32, were married this Saturday of the August long weekend. The ceremony took place at Astor Courts in the small town of Rhinebeck, New York.
The former First Daughter Chelsea wore a Vera Wang dress and later changed into another Grecian dress for the wedding reception according to PEOPLE. Chelsea and Marc rocked the dance floor and surprised the 400 guests. It was obvious that they took lessons.
Some of the celebrities who attended the wedding included, former President Bill Clinton, current Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Vernon Jordan, Terry Auliffe, Madeleine Albright, Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Steve Bing and Vera Wang. It was rumored that Oprah and Tom Hanks were also invited yet they were nowhere to be seen.
According to Radar Online, Chelsea and Marc were together for five years and were childhood pals. Their wedding planner was Bryan Rafanelli of Boston.
After the wedding the newlyweds jetted off to their honeymoon at an undisclosed location. Rumor has it that guests stayed to party at the wedding until 3 a.m.! Who knew these prestigious politicians knew how to party? Famous or not, It sounds like the wedding was an absolute success shared with friends and family.
Photo found at: http://foreign.peacefmonline.com/entertainment/
“Despite the fact that we have had interesting careers, we still consider the most important job we ever had being the parents of Chelsea.” – Bill Clinton.
JessiFirefly posts your weekly dose of pop culture.
Pirates of the Caribbean star, Orlando Bloom, 33, and his new wife, Miranda Kerr, 27, are back from the honeymoon in the tropics. The couple vacationed in the Caribbean for four days after the wedding. They stayed at the Viceroy hotel on the luxury island of Anguilla.
According to Radar Online, the wedding was a complete surprise to fans. News about the wedding was leaked after Kerr stated that she was not going to appear at the Australian department store David Jones.
She said: “David Jones very graciously released me during this period so we could celebrate an intimate ceremony and honeymoon together.”
Looking back at their history, the couple wed after only being engaged for a month however they have been dating since late 2007 according to PEOPLE magazine. The couple made their first public appearance back in April of 2008. Last year during Thanksgiving they spent time in Morocco vacationing.
Even celebrities want their own personal space sometimes. The couple deserves their privacy and it’s no shocker that they requested their wedding details be kept a secret. As of yet, not many wedding details have been released. -We wish them the best!
xo-JessiFirefly
Follow the fabulous lives of the Firefly team, see our client’s testimonials and take a sneak peak at our events, weddings and any other special events.
At one of our weddings we arranged for Italian opera singers to dress up as waiters. Nobody except the bride and groom had any idea. When these waiters started to sing, the guests were pleasantly surprised. They sang a very special song that was sung to the bride by the grandfather when she was a little girl. This was a very special memory at this beautiful Italian wedding!
JessiFirefly posts your weekly dose of pop culture.
Last Saturday Khadijah Haqq and Bobby McCray (former New Orleans Saints football star) tied the knot in Los Angeles. According to Radar Online, Khloe Kardashian is the bride’s best friend and was a bridesmaid in the wedding. Khloe and her husband Lamar Odom seemed to be having a wonderful time together at the reception.
www.radaronline.com
Khloe also brought her entire family who showed up in style! (As always)
Kim wore a tan and fitted dress with silver studded heels. It’s a small world… Kim’s ex-boyfriend Reggie Bush was one of the groomsmen at the wedding. Awkward. Regardless, Kim kept her cool and glowed with confidence as the ex-couple kept their distances.
www.radaronline.com
As for Kourtney, her and her boyfriend rolled up in a brand new Lamborghini.
www.radaronline.com
Their mother Kris and step-dad Bruce Jenner also attended the celeb wedding.
As for the bride and groom? Well, they were stylish as well. Khadijah wore a white layered dress with a sweetheart fitted top and Bobby wore a gorgeous tan tux!
www.radaronline.com
Lesson to be learned for all you future brides out there: Be prepared to have your thunder stolen when inviting A-List celebs like Kim Kardashian to your wedding. 
For more info about the celeb wedding day, watch the Keeping Up With the Kardashians TV episode to be aired soon. If you can’t wait, go to www.radaronline.com for more details.
-xo JessiFirefly
Follow the fabulous lives of the Firefly team, see our client’s testimonials and take a sneak peak at our events, weddings and any other special events.
We planned a sweet sixteen birthday party for a family that loved to travel the world. It was a great opportunity for us to incorporate their lifestyle into the design of the party. The food was all inspired by different parts of the world. The guests enjoyed Italian sodas, little Mexican nachos and Japanese sushi. As guests entered the party they each received a passport which told them what activities were at what location. We represented different parts of the world at the party by hiring a henna artist and even creating a New York City fashion photo shoot. We also had a Pebbles Beach putting green in the back yard.
Nicoles Sweet 16th Testimonial- Firefly from Our Perfect Wedding Video on Vimeo.
Follow the fabulous lives of the firefly team every Thursday. See what our past clients have had to say and take a sneak peak at our events, weddings and other special events.
by Ciara Daykin
It was supposed to be a beautiful springtime outdoor wedding but when snow started falling in Calgary in May we knew the wedding would need to be moved inside. Luckily our backup plan worked out perfectly and the couple were married with a backdrop of a beautiful oak wall with lime green and brown lampshade chandeliers. The aisle was lined with green amaranthus and guests sat in gold chiavari chairs.
The bride and groom had a ton of fun taking photos with Perry Thompson Photography and returned to their room at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce which had been completely transformed into their reception. Tables had corkscrew place card holders, green napkins, chocolate brown dupioni silk table cloths and of course the gold chiavaris. You can see that chairs really do make a difference in the atmosphere of the room. The centerpieces were a combination of low boxes filled with green button mums, freesia and roses and tall lampshades on a vase with green orchids floating inside.
Click on the thumbnails below for a better view of these awesome pictures from Perry Thompson Photography!
By Simon Daykin
So the Calgary Bridal Fair was 2 weeks back and I can proudly say that Firefly Occasions (my wife’s Wedding Planning company) won the Best Booth Design by an Event Planner. It was pretty cool, we worked really hard on the design and it was great to be recognized again as a leader in our industry. I got to meet a lot of Brides & Grooms and chat with them about their weddings. Thanks to some of my Grooms for braving the show and stopping by to hang out. We’re all settled in the new office and I’m just hanging the last of the art work around the place, it looks great!
We’re booking meetings for new clients and we’re booking up fast, so if you saw us at the fair or you’re thinking of hiring a wedding planner or designer for your special day, I say visit the all new website at www.fireflyoccasions.com . Contact us right away to secure your free consultation and take the next step in ensuring that your wedding is the one all your guests talk about for years to come. Or you can email me at info@fireflyoccasions.com and we’ll hook you up that way.
By Ciara Daykin
Bridal shows can be completely OVERWHELMING for a bride. There are so many other brides, so many booths, everyone is trying to get from point to point and it can really get crazy. In this special edition of my ezine I’m going to give you some savvy tips and tricks for hitting the bridal expo with style and sass!!
Tip #1: Wear comfy shoes! – You’re going to be walking a mile on a hard tradeshow floor. Yes, it’s lovely to look fashionable but the brides in stilettos never last long at the bridal expo. If you really want to see everything and be comfortable think about your feet first! (But be a little elegant and leave the stinky gym sneakers at home… opt for some cute supportive flats.)
Tip #2: 1000 Brides Gather In 1 Place – You think it might be a bit of a mob scene? Well then you’re absolutely right! If you really want to get some valuable one on one time with the exhibitors I recommend planning the timing of your visit to the Expo. When the fashion show is taking place the booths slow down significantly. This is a great time to chat with an exhibitor or try on dresses at the gown sale. I also recommend first thing in the morning (especially if you want your pick of all those frugally priced gowns).
Tip #3: Your Hand Will Cramp – Many exhibitors will be offering prizes at their booths and you’ll be asked to fill out a ballot form. You waste valuable time writing out your contact info again and AGAIN. So print off a couple sheets of labels that include your name, your groom’s name, your wedding date, your address, phone number and email. Then it will be easy to just peel and stick your info to the ballots. Then you can spend quality time checking out all the cool stuff on display!
Tip #4: Watch Out For Bridezilla! – I often see the dreaded bridezilla at the Bridal Expo. You know her… she’s the girl that pushes your Mom aside so she can get a better look at the booth, she criticizes your wedding colors when she overhears you gushing about them, she muscles her way to the prize box while telling the exhibitor she doesn’t want any information (just the prize!) and she complains loudly about how expensive everything is…. Oh yes… Bridezilla always makes an appearance at the Bridal Expo. But don’t let this kind of bride ruin your good time! She has a bunch of BAD karma surrounding her so just IGNORE HER and have some fun!
Tip #5: Be Patient & Be Nice – Be the opposite of bridezilla. The exhibitors at the show have brought some really great deals with them… some that you won’t even know about unless you talk to them! It’s true! At our booth I have a SPECIAL OFFER JUST FOR YOU!! If you come to my booth I’ll give you a special gift if you introduce yourself to me and let me know you read my ezine. But I’m ONLY giving this gift to brides on my ezine list that visit my booth- no exceptions. But I might be a little busy, so please be patient and look around our booth because I do want to talk to all the brides that come by.
This kind of mentality will get you far with other exhibitors as well. I find myself giving extra nice brides FREE advice! I know other exhibitors do too!! (because we all want to work with nice brides)
Tip #6: Hydrate! – The Round Up Centre with over 1000 people in it at any given time can heat up pretty quick. And you can bet the water ain’t cheap! So bring along some water for your journey. You don’t want to get a headache!!
Tip #7: One Step at a Time – Okay, the truth is that there are going to be A LOT of booths, people, and noise at the Bridal Expo. But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. YES, there are a lot of choices but you don’t have to choose EVERYTHING or choose ANYTHING right there and then. Here are a couple of TIPS within my TIPS to dealing with all the choices:
BONUS: Tip #8: Overwhelmed? Come Relax With Me – The day can get a bit hairy but think of my booth as a sanctuary. Come by and enjoy the elegance, look at pretty wedding photos and chat with us about your wedding. It’s really hard to figure out which exhibitors you should be seeing and I can point you in the direction of some of my favorites. I can also tell you about our FABULOUS programs that will do ALL the work for you (they make you feel like a celebrity!). So always know that I’m waiting at Booth 115 with a smile (and a hug if you need it!)
Ciara’s Bridal Advice
Good luck and I’ll see you there!! Don’t forget to introduce yourself to me for my SPECIAL OFFER, available ONLY to subscribers of my ezine!
By Simon Daykin
It may have been Valentine’s day, it may have been on vacation or it may have been during a hot air balloon ride (Congrats Steve & Sonya), but you got engaged…you’ve done a bit of planning, and while you were hiding the newspaper (like Marge did to Homer when the Chili Fest came to town) your bride to be has found out that there is a huge Bridal Show in Calgary and now she wants you to come as well. This is a full day of wandering around the Round Up Center looking at booth after booth, most of which couldn’t care less if you were there or not. Most vendors go after the Bride and the Bride only. It’s why I started Gutsy Groom in the first place and it’s why I work full time with my wife at Firefly Occasions to make sure the Groom isn’t left out and that his ideas are fully incorporated into the wedding planning process and the wedding day.
WHAT DO YOU AS THE GROOM DO????
As a planner & event designer, I attend this event twice a year, so I’m going to impart some tips to you on how to survive this day, keep your bride happy and make it out alive.
Comfort And Style
The trick is to mesh the two. You need to walk around all day, stand on concrete and look good while doing it. You wouldn’t wear track pants to go buy a new car, so why slum it for the Bridal Show? Project a high end image and high end vendors will be drawn to you. This is simple attraction. Vendors interview you just as much as you interview them, so put on a nice shirt, good pair of jeans and a kick ass pair of COMFORTABLE shoes. I’m not saying show up in a 3 piece suit, but dammit man, LOOK GOOD! I started going to this event in a T-shirt and jeans years ago, now that I plan 6 figure weddings, I dress the part.
Versatile Clothing Is Good
A dress shirt is good, as I find that they seem to blast the A/C, but when all those people get into that space…man it gets hot. I get cranky when I overheat so I always make sure I can change my body temp quickly and whenever possible, without having to carry anything. So with a dress shirt, you can roll up the sleeves, let off some steam and this will keep you in a better mood and not overheated all day.
Sure you can take a sweater off, but then you have to carry it.
I also recommend, that if you bring a coat, leave it in the car. It’s not that far from the car park to the doors, and you DO NOT want to be carrying around a coat all day. With Calgary you never know what the weather will be like, but trust me, if your fiancé brings a coat, odds are you’ll be carrying it around when she gets hot. So leave yours in the car so you won’t be carrying around two. And avoid the coat check (if there is such a thing) as that’s just another line you’ll have to wait in.
Happy Feet Ain’t Just For The Penguins
ALWAYS make sure you have a comfy pair of shoes on. You’ll be walking around all day and standing while you chat to vendors or your fiancé does. The floors in the Round Up Center are concrete. Being on concrete for hours on end takes a toll on the feet. And after the feet go, the legs follow and then it’s all downhill from there. I usually wear a pair of sneakers or the shoes I picked up at the Bridal Centre (patent leather sneakers) I’m not saying head out and buy new shoes for the show, go through the closet and see what you have. But make sure they have a nice, comfy sole on them. Cushioning will get you through the day and save the pain in your legs when you hit hour 4. This is a big venue and you’ll be doing A LOT of walking.
Hydration Is Key
So I know that the show is on a Sunday and Saturday nights are a great party night. But this is only ONE day out of countless weekends you’ll have in your life. Do yourself AND your fiancé a favor and don’t go out and get sloshed on Saturday night. Trust me on this, you’ll pay for it tenfold the next day.
So no hangovers OK guys!?!!
That being said, the recycled air will dry you out almost as fast. I suggest bringing a large water bottle, sure they sell water and but there is that whole line thing again. Bring Vitamin water, Powerade, whatever gets you through. I strongly suggest passing on your Red Bull type drinks as they induce a rather nasty crash after a couple of hours. (And if you leave that coat in the car, carrying a water bottle around isn’t that bad.) If you do need a “pick me up” type drink I suggest those little 5 hour energy drinks they sell at the gas station. I use these on long road trips and I can say they work, and have little to no crash at the end. I think they may include a bottle of water in your “welcome Package”…but you’ll go through that in no time flat. And remember to eat as well…the burgers are actually quite good.
Take It All In
This type of event can be very overwhelming, so take your time. If you find a vendor you like, get all their contact info, make a note on it so you don’t forget what it was you liked about them and keep it somewhere safe. There is so much info passed out at these things that the good stuff can get lost in the shuffle. If you can make an appointment with the vendor on the spot for a later date, do so. Take the time to talk to the vendor and get a feel for them and the services they offer. If you take an interest in stuff instead of hanging back and moping, the day will go by faster, your fiancé will love you for it and you’ll be able to get some of your ideas incorporated in your special day as well.
Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice
While this may not be the greatest day ever…it doesn’t have to be the worst. Follow the simple steps listed above and it’ll go smoothly. If your fiancé brings other people, ie: her mother, maid of honor, any bridesmaids…anyone really. Listen to what they have to say, add your opinion, but NEVER get into a fight with any of them. You can discuss all the info you gather when you get home with the only person who really matters…YOUR WIFE TO BE.
We are flooded with calls after the show, so if you want to meet with us after meeting us at the show, we can hook you up on the spot and make a sit down appointment with you. This way you won’t have to wait and you’ll have pick of the times we offer for meetings. If you’d like to secure your meeting now, simply click here and let me know the details of the wedding and I’ll book you in for a meeting.
It means a lot to your bride to have you involved so suck it up and go in with your head held high and the best of intentions. You may actually have a great time.
Ciara: We recently helped a couple pull off their 40th wedding anniversary party and it was just so pretty.
Simon: The day was hot but we cooled things down by putting up a big tent in their yard which backed onto greenspace.
Ciara: I’m not a big fan of tents when they’re just sitting there undecorated so we had planned to create these flower chandeliers out of Manzanita branches. And they turned out so awesome.
Simon: We then added crystals because we knew that the sun would really pick up on their sparkle.
Ciara: When we were doing the tented ceiling under the deck we first put up mini lights and then the fabric and then had to string the chandelier through.
Simon: And doing a tented ceiling outside you also have to battle spiders and cobwebs that were there first.
Ciara: I really loved that we alternated the colors of the tablecloths.
Simon: I was worried about that at first but it turned out great. I really liked the lounge that we set up in what they called “The Back 40,” the greenspace behind their house.
Ciara: I loved that too, and I love how you lit up all the trees in purple. It looked so cool when it got dark.
Simon: And we had some great people involved in this day too like Carla and her team from Savour Foods.
Ciara: Yes the food was soo yummy and the music was fantastic from Don Campbell and his group Estelle Elegance in Music. I loved the singer when she sang “Autumn in New York.” And it was super cute when the couple danced under the flower chandelier. That made me smile.
Simon: And all the kids loved the magician and that the food was designed with them in mind- mini burgers, non alcoholic jello shots with whipped cream.
Ciara: Oh and our wheelbarrow idea totally worked out. We put the drinks in there and people just helped themselves.
Simon: Wheelbarrows and gardens just go together so it was the perfect addition to this garden party.
Award winning Calgary based wedding planning company, Firefly Occasions has made a big wish come true for one couple. Ciara Daykin, CEO of Firefly Occasions was approached by Vibe 98.5FM to grant a wish for one of their listeners. A representative from Inn from the Cold, a local Calgary shelter had written in about a couple who had gotten engaged in the shelter and who were planning their July 18th nuptials. She had asked in her letter that the couple be granted the wish of an amazing wedding day with any help that could be provided.
Daykin, not only granted the wish by providing her planning and design services, she rallied the Calgary wedding industry to give this couple the wedding of their dreams. Calgary based wedding businesses such as Great Event Rentals, Mandala Floral, Cory Tomlinson Photography, Prism Sound, Beautiful Bride, Pink Lime Salon, Bridal Centre, Savour Food, and Production Lighting have all donated goods and services towards this couple’s wedding day. “I’ve been really excited and touched that I’ve called upon my colleagues in the wedding industry and they’ve really come through to make this a truly dream wedding day for this special couple” states Daykin.
The wedding will take place this Saturday, July 18th at Central United Church with a reception to follow. Daykin says, “The bride and groom are going to be really surprised when they see what we have in store for them. I think my favorite part of this whole process was when I saw our bride try on the wedding dress we’d secured for her. The smile on her face was priceless.”
Ciara Daykin is the owner and CEO of Firefly Occasions Inc., a wedding and event planning company based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Ciara is the publisher/ editor of “Beautiful Brides” a bi-weekly ezine for brides which offers industry insider tips and tricks to planning a fabulous wedding and is subscribed to by over 7500 individuals. Ciara is an expert in planning haute couture weddings that reflect the couple’s personality and style but still fit into their budget.
Ciara also coaches other wedding planners, is a sought after speaker in her industry, has had her articles published in books, magazines and online, and is a well-known social networking personality. Ciara is a personality on the blog SheandHePlanWeddings.com, with her husband Simon Daykin. They provide readers with a she said, he said perspective on weddings. Ciara also consulted designer Nancy Gale of Jamah.com on the creation of a bridal line of handbags and “The Ciara” handbag is named in her honor.
http://www.fireflyoccasions.com
Get Married featured Firefly Occasions on Lifetime TV this morning! Click below to check it out!
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