Awards - What Are They All About?

If you look at any wedding professional's website, you are likely to see some type of award they have won.  Which is great! But before you use that solely as your decision-making factor, take a look at that award and see how it was earned.

• Brides voting:  These awards are usually reputable.  The Knot has awards, Wedding Wire has awards, and many other well-known wedding sites have awards.  But also remember that anyone can register as a "bride" and vote, so there is still a slight chance of not-so-honest results.
• Industry peers or associations:  These awards mean the most to me.  They show that not only do your clients love you, your fellow professionals do too.  The field is often limited, and judging is usually done by well-known folks in the industry.
• Paid "awards": Yes, they are out there.  "Send us $100 for your plaque..."  I don't think I really need to explain this one!

I was honored to be nominated for one of the National Association of Catering Executives' Best Wedding Reception of the Year awards.  NACE has a very lengthly submission process, and from those submissions, only a handful make it through to actual nominations.  This year's awards were held at the NACE Experience! 2010 conference in July, and while I didn't win, it was such an honor just to be a nominee.  I even got to wear a little sticker on my name badge that said "Award Nominee!"  Out of 600 conference attendees and over 4,000 members, it was so special to be in such an elite group.

As you are interviewing prospective vendors, please be sure to ask questions!  Not only about awards, but also certifications, education, and associations.

NACE Experience! 2010

I've just gotten back from Austin, TX, where I attended the National Association of Catering Executives annual conference, Experience! 2010. There are so many highlights, I'll have to write several posts over the next few days as I go through my pages of notes and tons of photos!

For me personally, the highlights were:

• Being runner-up for Best Wedding Reception of the Year (with over 4,000 members, this is such an honor!)
• Teaching a session on "Wedding Harmony," which included a great discussion between wedding planners, venue managers, and event professionals
• Getting to spend time with my local NACE pals, seeing old friends from across the country, and meeting new event professionals to inspire me
• Learning about new trends, products and services to share with my clients
• Riding a mechanical bull!

Watch for more details soon...

Premier Bride New Issue Reception

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Our office will be closed from December 24th until December 28th, so we'd like to take a moment to wish you a safe and happy holiday.

Peggy Post: Wedding Etiquette

Heather and I recently attended the Association of Bridal Consultants’ annual conference in Indianapolis.  We met a lot of great people, and attended some very informative classes.  One of the highlights of the conference for me was meeting Peggy Post. That’s right, Peggy Post, the great-granddaughter-in-law of Emily Post – etiquette guru!

I attended two of Peggy’s sessions at the conference, and learned some really interesting things about etiquette and how it changes between cultures and over time.

One thing that really stuck out to me was that the giving of a thank you gift can differ between cultures.  The type of gift, when to give it, when to open it, and the appropriate way to reciprocate the gift can all vary depending on the culture.  For instance, be cautious if giving flowers as a gift.  Different colors or types of flowers have various meanings depending on the culture;  some even symbolizing death.  What I found even more interesting (and not surprising) is that chocolates are the universal thank you.

My favorite part of Peggy’s presentation, (besides her calling wedding coordinators saints) was her showing how the principles of etiquette have changed over time.

In 1922: A bride-to-be could not accept apparel, a house, or a car from her fiancé. A wedding in the evening would never take place in New York. A sit-down breakfast reception was the norm. Southern weddings took place in the evenings (because the weather was typically cooler).

In 1980: Female guests should never wear white or black to a wedding. A woman who is re-marrying should never wear white. A bridal gift registry could only consist of crystal, silver, china, and linen – that’s all! The bridal party could only consist of men standing with the groom and women standing with the bride.

Now in 2009, we have honor attendants or even pets as participants in the bridal party.  It is acceptable for female guests to wear black; sometimes even the bridesmaids' dresses are black.  And bridal registries often consist of just about any household item, even camping gear and flat screen TVs.  Not to mention the option of having a honeymoon registry, or requests for charity donations in lieu of gifts.

I also found it interesting that the one rule of etiquette that has not changed in over 80 years is the sending of a hand written thank you note after receiving a gift.

How do you think the rules of etiquette will change over the next 20 years?  Will evites be acceptable as wedding invitations?  Will social or eco-responsibility be more of a rule instead of an option?

Reminder: Peek Romance Photography Giveaway!

One week from today, we will be announcing  the winner of Peek Romance Photography giveaway!  Check out the post about the contest here: http://www.firstcoastweddings.com/wordpress/2009/11/were-back-with-prizes/

We've had some great entries but it's not too late!  Get your entry in soon.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

We're working on some changes to our blog!  Please excuse the dust as we tweak our new design.

Getting Ready For Indy

Melanie and I are getting ready to attend the annual Association of Bridal Consultants' International Conference, and we are so excited!  I've always been a believer in continuing education and feel that our clients benefit greatly.  Next week, we'll be learning from keynote speakers Sylvia Weinstock ("The Leonardo Da Vinci of Cakes") and Peggy Post (THE wedding etiquette expert), as well as two of the industry's top pros, Rebecca Grinnals and Frank Andonoplas. Each breakfast, lunch and evening event is themed, with events at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the famous members-only Columbia Club.

We're sure to come back with notebooks and Blackberries and cameras full of great ideas!  I'm looking forward to telling you all about it when we return.

(Please note, our office will be closed Saturday, November 7th through Wednesday, November 11th)

New Spotlight Gallery!

Be sure to visit our Spotlight photo gallery on our website!  We have just uploaded some gorgeous photos from Jennifer and Karl's September 26th wedding, courtesy of Oeil Photography.

Green Bride Guide Approved!

I was just notified that First Coast Weddings has been approved as a vendor on The Green Bride Guide!

Being green isn't hard; here are a few ways that we try to stay eco-friendly:

• Our office is as paperless as possible.  We use Google Apps to keep all of our client files, vendor files, and business documents online and easily shared with our whole team.
• We recycle whenever we can, including the stacks of out-dated wedding magazines.  If there's something we love, we cut out that page rather than storing the whole issue.
• Our team carpools to events when possible.
• Our clients often choose to discard items they buy for their weddings - candles, vases, baskets, mirrors, and more.  Rather than toss them into the trash, we toss them into our storage unit, and let future clients use them for their events.
• We are also happy to take floral arrangements from the wedding to local nursing homes - the residents love to see all the flowers, and many florists will make them in disposable containers if you request this ahead of time.

What are your favorite ways to go green?  Is there anything you are planning for your wedding that is eco-friendly?

Are We The Best Wedding Blog?

I hope so! And I hope you think so too. As you may have read in our post last week, we have been nominated for Best Wedding Blog in the 2009 EventProfs Blog Awards. We would really appreciate it if you would take a minute to vote for us! (Our blog title is "Something To Talk About")

Voting will close on September 21, 2009 @ 5:00 pm EDT. Only 1 vote can be cast per person. All duplicate votes will be disqualified.

Visit Us At The Bridal Show Sunday!

Did you have a chance to visit The Wedding Party's booth at the bridal show on August 31?  If not, here is a short highlight reel compliments of In Motion Video Productions!

Be sure to visit us this Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the UNF University Center! Need more info? Check out http://www.jacksonvillebridalconnection.com.

We've Been Nominated!

We're honored to have been nominated for the Best Wedding Blog award in the 2009 EventProfs Blog Awards! Voting opens next week, we'd love for you to take a moment and vote for us!

Plus, we're in such amazing company! Other nominees include:

• Green wedding shoes
• RockNRollBride
• Cynthia Martyn Events
• Sasha Souza's Sparkliatti
• Diary of a Las Vegas Wedding Concierge

Wedding Channel Blog Nominations

More blog nominations!  Check out Wedding Channel's first ever Bridal Blog Awards!  If you like our blog, we'd love it if you stop by to cast your vote!  Here's how it works: 1. Go to our nomination post in the forum: http://forums.weddingchannel.com/main.aspx/bridal-blog-awards_blog-nominations_something-talk-first-coast-weddings-events-blog

2. Reply within the thread and add your reason why you think our blog should win!

Nominations end July 8th.  Thanks for your support!

Featured Vendor Profile!

I am honored to be in the Featured Vendor Profile today on the So You're EnGAYged Blog!  If you aren't familiar with this relatively-new blog, here is a snippet from their website: So You’re EnGAYged seeks to match same-sex and allied couples with wedding vendors who actively support LGBT rights and freedoms, including, but not limited to, same-sex marriage. By highlighting voices from within the LGBT community, So You’re EnGAYged further works to build a community that can dispense advice, recommendations, and support to couples in the wedding-planning process. As the wedding industry has grown larger and more ubiquitous, we hope to serve as a reference for those who seek vendors whose business practices align with deeply held values.

We've Been Nominated!

I'm so honored that we are a BlogLuxe Awards: Blog You've Learned From Nominee! Voting is open until July 6th, and each person can vote once per day. 2009 BlogLuxe Awards will be presented at the SocialLuxe Lounge event at BlogHer '09 in July!

I hope you will stop by and vote for us - and vote often!

Check Out Brides!

Have you seen the July/August 2009 issue of Brides?  I'll be honest, I hadn't read it yet, but then I got this email from my cousin (and bride-to-be) Celeste in Los Angeles: "I just read a quote and at the end it was from you!" If you have a copy, check out page 93 for a tip from yours truly:

"It's always nice to hear that someone really wants to work with you," says Heather Canada, of First Coast Weddings and Events in Jacksonville, Florida.  "If it seems like they are just looking for deals, I'm unlikely to discount."  Canada doesn't slash prices, but she'll throw in extra services or create custom packages for couples with modest means.

What an honor to be quoted in such a prestigious publication!  The complete article, called "How To Negotiate With Vendors," starts on page 92.

New Spotlight Wedding!

We've updated our spotlight wedding feature on our website!  Be sure to check out some super-hot images from Michelle and Jamaal's wedding.  Thanks to Melanie and Bradford at La Dolce Vita Studio.

Florida's Brides Blog

A great new resource has been introduced today for Florida brides!

This new blog is a great resource for real weddings throughout the state.  Check it out at http://floridabridesblog.com!

Danielle & Jay (04.18.09) - Part 2

Danielle's wedding was featured today in the Florida Times-Union!  Here is the full text of the article:

When wedding planner Danielle Gregory and her longtime boyfriend, Jay Bamba, decided to marry, they decided they wouldn't let the wedding steal the spotlight from their marriage.

"We didn't want the sentimentality of the day to be overshadowed by a crazy bouquet or a full orchestra," said Danielle, 24, a wedding coordinator at First Coast Weddings and Events.

Danielle knew the wedding wouldn't be elaborate. For one thing, her family is feeling the effects of the recession, which meant an affair on a budget: $10,000, to be exact.

"I actually came in a little under," she said.

Danielle, who loves to read a wedding blog called StyleMePretty.com, saved a lot of money by doing things herself. She screen-printed her invitations and learned calligraphy, so she could address them.

She also saved money on her dress. "I wore a no name chiffon gown from a department store and made my own birdcage veil," Danielle said.

A few days before her wedding day, Danielle turned her refrigerator into a flower cooler and went to Whole Foods to buy $200 in flowers in shades of purple and raspberry. Danielle used tulips and Calla lilies for her bridal bouquet, wrapping them with a piece of crochet made by her grandmother.

Danielle and Jay met in 2001 at Ridgeview High School in Clay County. "I had seen her around school, and I thought she was real pretty," said Jay, 25, a field technician at Comcast.

Jay wanted to marry two years ago, but Danielle's mother said no.

"She thought we were too young," Danielle said. Jay asked again this past Christmas. This time, Mom put up no objections.

"She thought we were ready," Danielle said.

The couple said "I do" April 18 beside the Treaty Oak on Jacksonville's Southbank before 150 guests. Their dinner reception was held at Maggiano's Little Italy.

"Food cost about $6,500," Danielle said. "That was for a five-course meal."

To save money, the couple decided against a wedding cake and opted for the desserts that came with their five-course meal.

They also invited guests to participate in an heirloom dessert buffet. Several days before the wedding, two dozen guests sent Danielle their favorite dessert recipes. She turned them into a recipe book and screen-printed copies of the pages.

Guests brought three batches of their favorite dessert to the wedding and went home with different recipe pages. For Danielle, it was a simple but soulful way to achieve the wedding she wanted.

"I've seen many beautiful weddings," she explained. "But the ones I liked the most were the ones that were meaningful."