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:

•  Seek And Ye Shall Find – Know what you are looking for and enjoy the rest. Don’t feel like you have to choose ALL your vendors from the Bridal Expo. This is just a sampling of some of Calgary’s finest. You may connect with some vendors, you may not. This is a great opportunity to meet people face to face and figure out if they should be part of your wedding day.
• One by One – Approach each vendor calmly, ready to hear the sales pitch (yes- the sales pitch). The exhibitors are there to sell to you. You’re there to buy right? So if someone is overwhelming you just ask them politely to SLOW DOWN. You don’t need the info dump! Ask the questions you want answered.
• Thanks But No Thanks – If you’re not interested thank them and walk away. Don’t take the flyer and load up your bridal bag. Guess what? You’ll quickly rifle through that bag ONCE after the expo, pulling out the vendors you connected with… and then it’ll sit in your closet to be found on your 2 year wedding anniversary!

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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Join me on Thursday June 4th at 5pm PST/ 6pm MST/ 7pm CST/ 8pm EST for a free teleseminar, “Screw the Economy, Have Your Dream Wedding Without the Nightmare Bill.”

Learn my insider secrets to:

1. Sticking within your new wedding budget even if it’s not what you always thought it would be
2. How to incorporate hot wedding trends into your wedding without the big bill
3. What to ask when hiring vendors to make sure you’re getting the best deal (and that they’ll still be in business by the time your wedding comes around)
4. Easy ways to eliminate unnecessary wedding expenses
5. How you can plan your wedding yourself and save thousands of dollars (yes- I’m a wedding planner telling you how you can plan your own wedding)

If you want the wedding of your dreams but you don’t want to give up your other dreams to have it (like the nice honeymoon, buying your first home, saving for a baby) then this is the call for you.

And the best part?

It’s totally FREE! You just need to click here to register for this call Even if you can’t make the call by signing up you’ll receive the recording. Don’t miss this HUGE call where you’ll learns wedding industry insider secrets.

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Experience my wedding advice and insider information in a new way… Through video! Click here to check out the insider scoop from the Your Wedding Day Magazine party in LA. This video is filled with great ideas for your wedding that are totally new!

I hope you’re enjoying spring now that it seems to have finally arrived. I’m headed up to Lake Louise in the Rocky Mountains as the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is putting on an exclusive showcase for a select group of wedding planners and we’ve been invited to attend. I’m bringing along my camera and my Flip video so stay tuned for some updates!

I’m also headed to LA to meet with several other high end wedding planners from around North America whom I coach and we’re all hitting up the YWD Magazine party while we’re there so I’ll have lots of cool new ideas for you when I get back.

I’m heading out to The Chateau Lake Louise this weekend, they are kindly putting my wife and I up and giving us a tour of the facilities. I love Lake Louise, it’s so beautiful, and makes for a great destination wedding venue that’s not even that far from us here in Calgary. Sunday we’re flying out to LA for our first in person Rockstar Wedding Planner Legends meeting, hosted by Firefly Occasions. My wife and I are coaching other planners on how to build their businesses. We’ll be meeting up with 10 other planners from across North America and chatting about building our businesses and the latest and greatest trends in the industry. I love these meetings, we get so many great ideas from them. We’ll also be meeting with some LA area vendors to discuss what they can offer to make your weddings out of this world. There is so much creativity out there and I love to bring it back to Calgary to give my grooms a one of kind wedding that no one out here has seen before.

I recently completed a wedding at the legendary Banff Springs Hotel. The couple envisioned an elegant, classy affair that provided their guests with an amazing experience and a truly special memory.

But how do you get from the drawing board to the actual wedding?

I always start out my conversations with couples by asking them for the descriptive words that they would use to describe what they want their wedding to look and feel like…

And then I dig a little deeper.

You need to make sure that you are getting your vision across to the people that are involved in your wedding. As a bride when you say, “elegant,” “classy”…. What does that actually mean?

Remember that your version of elegant and classy may be completely different from what someone else envisions. That’s why it’s really important that your vision is clear and easy for your vendors to understand.

So how do you convey your concept?

When we sit down with couples we have a décor consultation. To me, décor is about so much more than just the linens on the tables. It’s about the overall atmosphere of a wedding and all the elements that make up that atmosphere. Yes the linens play a part but there are also the centerpieces, the wedding day stationary, the food, the beverage, the music, and the lighting to name a few.

Each of these elements lends to the overall experience that you and your guests will have.

In our décor meetings we pour over all the wedding books that I’ve collected and I also pull up websites to show the couple. If I hear them say elegant I want to make sure that I know what their version of elegant is. Elegant could be a room filled with candelabras dripping with crystals OR it could be clean, modern lines and the look could be quite minimal.

Here are 3 ways to get the wedding look and feel you want:

• Get Descriptive- I’ll often tell the bride and groom a story of what I envision their wedding day to be based on their initial thoughts. I take their descriptive words and I start to add details like lots of candlelight and tall centerpieces overflowing with white flowers and greens. You can write the story of your wedding day to gain clarity with your vision.
• Illustrate Your Story- Has your wedding planning book become a dumping ground for all the pages you’ve ripped out of bridal magazines? It’s great to collect ideas but now you have to start editing this collection of random wedding things. I find that a bride can really narrow down her vision to a couple of pictures and then things are less confusing.
• What’s The Experience?- The wedding day is about you but it’s also about the guests that have gathered to be a part of your wedding day. So what kind of experience do you want your guests to have? Stating black tie required on your invitation creates a different expectation of experience than sending out a funky invitation with bright colors and a non traditional font. So figure out the experience you want your guests to have and make sure that each element is chosen to enhance that experience.

Ciara’s Bridal Advice

When you’re figuring out how you want your wedding to look and feel I know that it helps immensely to do the above exercise as a couple. Remember that you’re both involved in the wedding so it’s important that the wedding is a reflection of both of your personalities. Once you’ve created a plan for your wedding and you know how you want it to look and feel then you must commit to that vision and make sure all your wedding decisions are aligned with that vision for it to become a reality.

This morning Calgary’s VIBE 98.5FM announced that their annual $98,000 Dream Wedding contest has been launched for 2009. And Firefly Occasions is one of the major sponsors!

As the wedding this year is a destination wedding and being taken care of by Westjet Vacations we will be planning, designing and coordinating a Bon Voyage party for the winning couple. The couple and 50 of their closest friends will be treated to a VIP night at V Lounge, Calgary’s newest lounge which specializes in premium vodkas. The package will include invitations for the couple to send out to their guests, appetizers, the first round of drinks and champagne. Firefly Occasions will also be designing the décor of the entire event, decorating the V Lounge to provide the couple and their guests with the ultimate atmosphere to enjoy this experience. From lighting to linens and the latest trends in wedding reception accessories Firefly Occasions will provide the best of the best in wedding décor for the lucky couple. Each detail of the evening will be coordinated by Firefly Occasions so that the evening is stress free and fabulous for the lucky couple. This prize is valued at $10,000.

We’ll be blogging about the contest a lot to keep you up to date with all that’s happening. We’ll also be introducing you to all the great vendors that help us with this Bon Voyage party. This party will be out of this world. The winning couple will be blown away! Stay tuned! And visit http://vibedreamwedding.com/ for contest details and how you can enter.

A wedding is a time for celebration- LOTS of celebration!  In most cases, the wedding ceremony and reception are not the only events that will take place.  The following is a brief summary of some of the events you may or may not choose to include for your wedding.

Engagement Party- Usually held 1-4 months after the big announcement, an engagement party is usually just held for the sake of having a party!   However, if the families have not already met, an engagement party can be a great way to introduce them!

Wedding Shower- Traditionally, a bridal shower would be held before the wedding, to “shower” the bride-to-be with gifts, love and good wishes.  These days, however, more and more couples are having a wedding shower, which includes the groom-to-be as well.

Bachelor/Bachelorette Party- In the last month before the wedding, the bachelor and bachelorette parties give the groom and bride one last chance to bond with their best friends before tying the knot. 

Bridesmaids Luncheon- Another chance for last-minute bonding, a tea or luncheon held a day or two before the wedding is also a great way to thank your best friends for all the help and support they have given you along the way.

Rehearsal Dinner- Usually held after the wedding ceremony rehearsal, the night before the wedding, the rehearsal dinner is a great place to thank and give gifts to everyone who made your wedding day possible (attendants, parents, etc.).  It is also a nice pre-cursor of the day to come!

Farewell Brunch- The morning (or early afternoon, depending on how wild your party gets!) after your wedding day, a farewell brunch is a great way to wrap it all up and say goodbyes.  It may also be a good time to open gifts, if you wish to include your family and friends in that as well.

You may be thinking that all of these celebrations will take a lot of time and effort to prepare for, but believe me- they are worth it in the end!

Planning the perfect honeymoon may not be so easy if you and your husband-to-be have very different ideas of “a good time.”  Honeymoon Advice has over 40 fantastic articles that will help you plan the perfect honeymoon.  They have everything from luxury honeymoon ideas to ideas for honeymooning with kids!  As for planning a mutually agreeable honeymoon, they offer the following tips:

Start planning early!  The sooner you start the more time you will have to reach a decision.

Make a list of all the features you both want and all the things you can do without.  A travel agent will then be able to give you a list of possible destinations.  If you would rather not use a travel agent, you will have to do the research yourself.  Try not to rely solely on the internet for your information.

Think outside the box.  Try finding a destination that has a variety of things for you to do individually, yet still has that luxury atmosphere that allows you to relax and spend quality time together.

Don’t be afraid to compromise!  Sure, you want your honeymoon to be absolutely perfect for you, but more than likely it won’t be the last vacation the two of you ever take.  Most importantly, choose a destination that will allow you to make memories that the two of you will look back on and smile about for the rest of your life.

Today’s brides have LOTS of choices! Feeling overwhelmed when it comes to picking a reception location? You just need a few pointers to help you choose a reception location that’s perfect for you. Follow these easy steps and you will be well on your way to the wedding of your dreams.

Gosh Mom! How Did You Decide?

Things are a little different now from when your mom got married. With so many choices, even the most decisive of brides can get a little unnerved. Do you have your reception in a hall or hotel? Art gallery or rustic ranch? Outside under a tent or indoors with a tented ceiling?

Ice in Our Drinks Or Ice Sculpture: What Can My Budget Handle?

Start by thinking of your budget. Ladies, keep in mind that while this is an extremely important day, you don’t want to be paying for it (literally) for the next 20 years. Narrow your selections down to ones that will be appropriate to your budget and won’t break the bank.

Express Yourself!

Next, think about what kind of wedding you would like to have. Do you want it to be classic, funky, unique? Don’t choose a reception venue based on your parents’ or your friends’ expectations. Choose a location that reflects the personalities of both you and your husband-to-be. Remember that this is your special day and you need to pick a spot that makes you happy and excited.

Never Judge A Location By Its Cover

With the exception of destination weddings, once you have narrowed down a group of reception venue finalists, you should ALWAYS go for a visit. Don’t just trust the pictures and descriptions from the websites as they do not show every aspect of a venue. It is important to go and see the room, the facilities, the area surrounding, and meet the event manager.

You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling

Don’t feel bad if everything seems perfect but you just don’t get a good “feeling” about the place. If you have a bad feeling, then it is not the right location for you, and don’t let your fiancé tease you about it because a woman’s intuition is never wrong!

Let’s Get Down To Business

You should also feel comfortable with the event manager as you will be working closely with them over the next couple of months. Here are 9 questions to ask a potential venue:

1. Is there a room minimum (a set amount you must spend on food and beverage to use that room) or a room rental charge?
2. What time can you get into the room to decorate?
3. Can you tear down the next day or does it have to be that night?
4. What decorating regulations do they have?
5. What is the room capacity with a dance floor and with buffet tables (these things will change a venue’s room capacity if you plan on having them)?
6. Do you have to use their catering services? Even for the cake?
7. Can you bring in your own liquor? Does that mean there is a corkage fee and/or a bartender charge?
8. Will they provide all of the tables, chairs and linens? What colors are they?
9. What time does your party need to end?

Say It With Chair Covers Or Say It With Open Bar

Sit down with your fiancé and figure out your wedding priorities. Sort out what it is that you absolutely must have on your wedding day and what you can live without. This will not only help you when choosing a reception location but it will help you with all of your other wedding choices as well. Do you really want a plated meal at dinner if it means you can’t afford a champagne toast?

Ciara’s Bridal Advice

Once you have chosen a reception location and booked it, you are well on your way to a wonderful wedding. Just remember ladies, no matter where you have your wedding reception, you will have a fabulous evening with your new husband surrounded by family and friends. So start researching venues now! Make a list of the sites you like and tackle it. The sooner you find a place to get married the sooner that stress will be gone. If you don’t know where to start or don’t even know what options are out there I can help you. I can help you find a venue that you may have never even heard of before that is just perfect for your style and your budget. Click here virginia@fireflyoccasions.com to book a meeting with me. 

Book Your 2009 & 2010 Wedding Dates As we move quickly into the New Year your 2009 or 2010 wedding date quickly approaches. Avoid being stressed out by planning your wedding by hiring us to be your wedding planner. Whether you just want some advice, or someone there to help on the wedding day or you need help with planning everything- we have you covered. Check out all the great options we have (and we can customize something for you) then book a meeting with us to discuss how one of our programs will work for you and your wedding. Click here if you’re The Hollywood Princess- A bride that wants the full service, couture experience- vendor and venue referrals, décor and design, and wedding day coordination. Everything is taken care of by the Firefly Occasions team. Click here if you’re The Tiffany Girl- You’ve got your vendors and your venue chosen but you need help figuring out what it should all look like, what your theme should be, and how it’s all going to come to life (without your family having to be put to work). This program also includes wedding day coordination. Click here if you’re The City Girl-You have everything covered but you definitely need help with your décor. You want a design team to create the perfect wedding environment for you to celebrate with your guests. This program deals solely with event design and no coordination. Click here if you’re The Cosmopolitan Icon- You figured it all out on your own but you want to make sure that each little detail that you’ve painstakingly planned is going to come to life without you having to be stressed out over it. You need a wedding day coordinator and you need the best! Click here if you’re the DIY Bride- You want to do it all yourself but you want to know the insider secrets to planning your celebrity style wedding. I’ve recorded over 20 hours of audio and made all of my spreadsheets and templates available to you. You can instantly download the DIY Planning System or it is now available in cd format which you’ll receive in the mail. The planning and design service packages are only available to 2009 couples. This deal cannot be used by a current Firefly client. To access the Recessionista sale you must pay the sale price up front to secure the booking. Payment plans are only available to clients paying full price.