I've just updated our Internship page with the summer dates! If you are a college student looking for a summer internship, click here.
I Do Radio Interview
Be sure to listen to my interview on I Do Radio this Saturday at 11:00 am! I'll be chatting with host Angela Chester about planning your wedding day to be stress-free.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/I-Do-Radio
New Demo Video!
We have created a new demo video for our prospective clients to get a feel for our work. We'd love your feedback!
Follow Me On Twitter!
It's no secret that I love Facebook. But for some reason, I have fought the urge (and peer pressure!) to join Twitter. But today I finally took the plunge.
Floral Boot Camp!
Tonight, the First Coast Weddings team visited Rose of Sharon European Florist for our first installment of Wedding Coordinator Boot Camp. We are visiting a different vendor each month to brush up on our skills to make every wedding as smooth as possible! Here are some photos of what we learned:
Lynette Self, owner of Rose of Sharon European Florist, with Heather, Lauren, Melanie and Emma
Judy gives Emma a lesson in making a boutonniere
Lauren shows off her boutonniere
Emma, Melanie and Lauren show off the bouquets that Judy and Lynette taught them to make
New Forum For Jax Brides and Grooms
At The Wedding Party, we are always looking for new ideas! We had a bride recently mention how nice it is to talk to other brides to share ideas and tips, which sounded like a great idea to us! So we created a new group on Meetup.com just for you.
We have set up an online community where you can post messages in the forum, but we will also host monthly meetings. These meetings will NOT be sales pitches - the wedding professionals of The Wedding Party will be available to answer any questions you may have, but the whole concept is to bring brides together with other brides!
Our first in-person get-together will be held next Wednesday!
When: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Where: The Wedding Party office, 8640 Philips Highway, Suite 8, Jacksonville
More Info: http://www.meetup.com/Jacksonville-Brides-Grooms/
Pre-Marital Counseling
Our of our favorite wedding officiants, Rev. Craig Grandstaff, Sr., is now offering pre-marital counseling services.
His new endeavor, Forever Yours Pre-Marital Counseling, is a state-approved - that means the three-day waiting period is waived, and you get a discount on your marriage license! Not to mention receiving a "road map" for a successful marriage.
Classes are available once a month.
Another Open House!
We're having another open house at The Wedding Party, and you're invited!
You are cordially invited to attend an Open House Reception to explore Jacksonville’s first wedding mall
It’s like a bridal show every day!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm 8640-8 Philips Highway, Jacksonville
Be sure to pick up your copy of "Expert Advice For A Stress-Free Wedding," a packet of tips and questions to ask when choosing your wedding professionals.
Plus, we will have great goody bags for each bride and groom that attend!
"Rock The New Year" Bash
The Wedding Party gang before our first annal "Rock The New Year" Bash!
Last night we had the best time! The Wedding Party through a get-together for wedding professionals to relax and socialize and get ready for a great 2009. When we originally picked the date back in October, Theresa Fishburne from Simply Delicious! Cakes commented that it was also Elvis' birthday, and that got the ball rolling for our 50's themed event.
As you can see from the photo, we all dressed in 50's attire, until it was time for the Gator game, and then lots of orange and blue came out. Laura Parrish, of Celebrated Occasions, Theresa, and I spent several hours creating a giant juke box to hang over the dance floor, and we add Elvis photos, records and music notes around the room.
Theresa created three different cakes that were topped with fondant records, and Connie Duglin Specialy Linen provided black and white check table cloths.
If you need help with a themed event, give us a call!
Congratulations!
More marriage proposals occur during December than any other time of year, and we're here to help! If you received a shiny new ring this week, be sure to give us a call at 904-739-8003 to begin planning your big day!
Happy Holidays!
Wishing you all the best this holiday season!
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
We love the holidays around the office, because nice people are always stopping by with goodies! Today it was the super-sweet Ashley English from Bella Bridesmaid, with the delicious cupcakes from Cami Cakes! Thanks, Ashley!
Cans for Comments
Several blogs I read daily are participating in a great holiday idea, so I thought I would join in too! For every comment left on our blog between now and December 22nd, we will donate one can to The Second Harvest Food Bank of North Florida.
Show us the love, both for First Coast Weddings and for those in need!
New Team Headshots
It's been on my to-do list for a long time, but it's finally done! We have a new team photo on our website.
Michelle Dearing of Oeil Photography did a fabulous job. I had a hard time choosing one picture of each person to use for the collage! Maybe I'll get creative and do something funky with them in the future.
Michelle just moved here from Pensacola, so be sure to check out her work if you have not booked a photographer already! You're going to love her style, I just know it.
I Think About Weddings, Even When On Vacation
I was out of the office for a few days enjoying a long weekend with two of my cousins, Mariel and Celeste. We had a great time eating our way through New Orleans and enjoying all that the city has to offer. But wouldn't you know it, one of the places we had to stop was a wedding chapel.
We spotted the French Quarter Wedding Chapel across the street as we were walking back to our room at The Iberville Suites - which I would highly recommend, by the way. Thinking the chapel was closed, we pressed our little noses against the glass to pear inside, only to be surprised by the approaching owner. He invited us in, told us a little bit about the chapel.
It is the only wedding chapel located in the French Quarter, and is owned by Tony and Lou Ann Talavera. Tony handed me his business card and I laughed when I saw his title: Ambassador of Romance.
Here is something that really sets this chapel apart from most: there are dollar bills stapled to their beautiful Cypress-beamed ceiling! Want to know why? You'll have to visit their website to read the story.
Internship Applications
We are now accepting applications for our internship program for December through February. The internship will run from December 1st through February 28th. Applicants must be available to work at least five hours per day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, plus Saturdays and evenings as requested. Visit our Internship page for more information.
New Photo Galleries
One thing off the to-do list! I finally finished re-designing our photo gallery. I'll be revamping some photos from past weddings over the next few weeks, but for now there are four brand-new galleries from some spring weddings. Enjoy!
Introducing...Planning Websites!
Our team (especially Danielle!) has been working hard on developing a great new service for our clients, and I'm proud to announce that we are ready for the big reveal!
We are introducing Planning Websites for all of our brides and grooms to interact with their coordinator. It's a great way to share documents, photos, to-do lists, ideas and more!
We're still in the process of creating individual websites for our current clients, but we are busy uploading files! You'll receive an email when your website is up and running.
But don't be worried - these sites are only accessible to people that are invited, so the entire world won't know how much you're spending on your flowers or what your dress looks like!
Facebook Expert?!
It's true, I love Facebook. I sign on throughout the day to see what everyone is up to. I have Facebook for my Blackberry. I love to play games on Facebook with friends around the world. But am I an expert?
Probably not. However, I was quoted today in the Dabbling Mum's blog about integrating your personal and professional lives through social networking sites like Facebook. Interested? Read the post here.
(For my wedding-professional-friends that read this blog, what is your take on Web 2.0? Post a comment!)
Style Me Pretty!
Style Me Pretty is one of the most famous wedding blogs around. If you haven't heard of SMP, run, don't walk, to check it out!
Style Me Pretty is known as THE place for wedding inspirations - whether it is a new product, photos from real weddings, or DIY creations.
We were invited (yes, Abby and her team are very choosy about who is listed!) to be in the Little Black Book, which is an incredible honor. Here's how the website describes their collection of wedding professionals:
Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book is a highly edited collection of wedding service providers - from mom and pop boutiques to A-Listers. Personally recommended by our closest girlfriends, industry insiders and Style Me Pretty readers, there are three hand-picked listings per category. Brace yourself, though…it’s that good!
We'd also like to congratulate Jacksonville photographer Agnes Lopez for being chosen too!
