Fall In Love With Avia February 18, 2009

This morning I had the pleasure of visiting Avia Savannah and meeting Lisa Martello, Meeting and Events Manager.

Avia opened its doors in Historic Savannah on January 23^rd.

Part of a boutique hotel collection owned by Lodgeworks; Avia embodies the art of living well – infusing authentic, fresh, inspiring design, and the highest levels of service and a sophisticated sense of place.

Avia definitely hit the mark by combining style, modern day appeal, flavor and elegance. Avia has undoubtedly raised the bar in Savannah. The planners and architects for this project left no stone unturned.

Such attention to detail! I Love It!

I was simply blown away!  I am looking forward to booking future weddings and events at this innovative new venue. Like a little kid in the candy store, I experienced all of the delights and pleasures visually possible during my visit. Avia Savannah was everything I expected plus more!

Here are a few pictures that I managed to snap while visiting.

The view from the Terrace is both spectacular and breathtaking! A perfect location for Cocktail Hour!

Fall in love with Avia Savannah – A fabulous host for any event.

Look for more to come from RDM on this exciting, phenomenal venue. Thanks Lisa for making my visit warm and inviting.

The Metts Mansion December 3, 2008

On yesterday, I had the honor and distinct pleasure of touring the Metts Mansion. The MettsMansion is now available for rent. A fabulous venue for your Wedding or Reception.

With style, grace and southern charm The Metts Mansion is sure to appeal to the bride with the most discrimitive taste. The Mansion is rich with history and would make a beautiful backdrop for your Historic Savannah Wedding.

Metts Mansion History – In 1896, Dr. Lawrence McNeil, President of the Savannah Lighting Company selected the most perfect location to enjoy the spectacular views of Forsyth Fountain. He commissioned architect G.L. Norman to design a mansion to compliment the elegant fountain. When gazing from the stunning balconies and verandas of the home you have the vantage point to view the crown jewel and centerpiece of the park.

The Greek revival mansion was completed in 1907 with over 10,000 square feet of space to entertain the city of Savannah and her guests. The large rooms on the main floor with their elaborate wood embellishments and Victorian design transport visitors to an era of decadence and splendor. The present owner of the mansion is Dr. James C. Metts Jr. who is best remembered for his character in the novel “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”

The Metts Mansion serves as an ideal location for wedding and reception!

Lynne & James – October 3, 2008 October 10, 2008

Meet Lynne & James

A fabulous couple from Chicago

I met the newly married couple in April and they were wonderful to work with. Lynne, very detailed oriented and knows exactly what she wants.

I loved working with Lynne. Very organized and focused. Her attention to every detail was seen throughout the event.

Their wedding day was filled with elegance, grace and sophistication. Lynne’s family is truly awesome and her father can definitely liven up any party! I was blessed to be a part of such a wonderful and blessed celebration.

Lynne chose an awesome group of professionals. Lynne’s all-star team of vendors included

Garden on The Square, Julie is the most amazing and gifted floral designer I have ever met.

The First City Club, Jennifer and her staff were very professional and courteous. The food was amazing!

First African Baptist Church - Revered Tillman and staff were so accommodating and eager to offer their assistance wherever needed.

(re) Defining Moments – Full Service Wedding & Special Event Planner

Savannah’s very own Huxsie Scott sung the night away. Huxsie’s band was a hit with all the guests. Huxsie’s granddaughter, Markeya made a special appearance. Markeya performed a wonderful rendition of Ella Fitzgerald’s A Tisket, A Tasket. This young lady is destined for greatness!

The Mansion’s 700 Drayton Street – Day After Thank You Brunch

The Lady & Sons – Groom’s Dinner

DVB Photographers – Donna and Kelli, did an amazing job of capturing a lifetime of wonderful memories.

Mirror Images Productions – Thomas and Claudia were on point as they caught the entire day on film.

New Arts Ensembles – It is always a pleasure to work with Kristen and Ricardo. The Gospel choir was awesome and left a memorable impression on all.

Thanks again to all of the wonderful vendors who worked together to make Lynne and James event a success!

A Few Words From Lynne & James – “We just finished our last wedding event and we couldn’t have done it without all of you. Thank you for putting up with my incessant emails, planning and schedules, etc. I read on many wedding websites -that you should plan for something to go wrong at your wedding – no matter how long or intense your planning process.

What those folks didn’t count on was a phenomenal team of wedding professionals such as yourselves. All of our guest raved about Savannah, the attention to detail and how personal the wedding was. James and I felt comfortable the entire 3 days because we knew you were helping us with our vision.

On behalf of James and myself – from the bottom of our hearts – we will never forget you and we thank you for blessing our wedding events with your incredible skills and talents. ~Love, Lynne & James”.

The couple celebrates their one-week anniversary today. They compliment each other very well. A union of two wonderful families has been made. This couple is destined for a lifetime of happiness!

Lynne & James, Congratulations! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to share in your very special day!

Blessings,

Karen

Pictures from Lynne & James Wedding Celebration

The picture of Lynne climbing the steps is one of my favorites. I love the way her gown flows and moves with her as she heads up the steps in one of the alley’s on River Street.

To move in high heels like this is an amazing feat in itself.

Kudos to you Lynne!

Thanks Donna for the amazing photos!

Tips For A Fabuluxe Tented Affair October 6, 2008

Yesterday, I posted some great information on using tents for your reception. Today, I will pick up where I left off. Giving you four awesome tips that will result in fabuluxe tented affair.

A tent reception can be an exceptionally beautiful and unique experience for the bridal couple as well as their guests. The variety and sizes of tents that are available today make finding something that fits your personal style easy and affordable. Clear top tents let you dance beneath the starlit sky and flat top frame tents provide you with an open and welcoming feel without supporting poles blocking the way. You can choose a tent without sides or one with French window sidewalls. Whatever tent you select, you will need the right lighting, flowers, fabrics and favors to make it a gorgeous oasis for your guests.

1. Use Lighting to Create Drama

The lighting of your reception tent is extremely important. By using some simple tricks, you can create an elegant escape or a fun and festive celebration. Twinkle lights, in white or colors, are often used in tent receptions; hidden in garlands, draped along ceiling panels, or strung in plants and shrubs. Other lighting options include spotlights with colored gels that create dramatic patterns on walls, floors or ceilings. For those who want a classic, romantic feel, candles create a dreamy and mysterious ambiance that could be just the right touch. A plethora of candle holders are available and make wonderful centerpieces. Blinking balloons can create a fun and casual tone to your event that your guests will love. Whatever your style, lighting is an important factor in creating the right atmosphere for your reception.

2. Bring Nature Indoors

Through the aid of well-placed flowers, trees and shrubs, your guests may be able to forget they are even in a tent. Fill corners with beautiful flowering shrubs or trees. Disguise support poles with vines and bouquets. Add fragrance with elaborate floral centerpieces. A nice twist on the traditional cut flowers for the table is to have a living arrangement that your guests can take home and plant in their garden or keep in the house, a continuous reminder of your special day. Flowers can add color and excitement to your event with a subtlety that your guests will surely appreciate.

3. Surround Yourself with Sumptuous Satins

In order to really transform a reception tent, creative use of fabrics is essential. From luxurious panels draped across the ceiling to tantalizing tulle-adorned support poles, fabrics can create depth and contrast to the harsh lines of the tent. Soften doorways by swathing them in flowing chiffon. Emphasize your head table with curtains of lace as a backdrop. Evaluate your tent and accentuate the highlights while downplaying any possible negative aspects. With a little imagination, you can create a completely unique and ethereal feeling for your reception.

4. Finish with Wedding Favor Flair

Complete your décor with corresponding favors that complement the surrounding motif. Very often, a well thought out favor can be the final touch needed to create a cohesive design for your reception, uniting the various elements around them. Whatever theme you use for your reception, you can use favors to heighten your guests’ experience.

With these simple techniques, you can create a magnificent venue for your reception. However, don’t forget the little details, too. Think about if you need flooring for the entire tent or just the dance floor. Are there any sound ordinances in the area that might affect your party? Do you have enough parking and restrooms for your guests? Do you have enough power for the caterers, musicians, and lighting? Is there a contingency plan in case of extremely bad weather? Once you have answered these simple questions and created your own design plan, you will have a wonderful reception that is uniquely your own that your guests will absolutely adore.

Tents: A Blank Slate and Creative Palette October 5, 2008

There’s nothing quite like a wedding reception in a tent, with its uniquely informal atmosphere, customized decor and proximity to the elements outdoors.

Weddings and receptions with an outdoor component are incredibly popular in the warm months. And, with larger, more sophisticated tent structures boasting such comforts as built-in heating, tent receptions are even taking hold in the colder seasons as well.

Yet tents are so much more than simply shelter. I love tented receptions for their natural intimacy, and creative possibilities.

One of the nicest things about tent receptions is the creative possibilities they enable. Unlike the typical reception hall, a tent is indeed like a blank slate upon which you can build your own world, creating exactly the atmosphere you desire for your grand celebration.

This not only makes your reception more memorable for you and your guests, but also makes possible a unique and powerful set of visual elements that will translate to beautiful memories. A tent gives you the creative freedom to visual construct the venue of your dreams

Because the canvas is bare you don’t to work around the existing décor of a venue, which oftentimes clash with the overall theme and look that you are trying to achieve. With tents you have more latitude to create a specific feel.

If you use a tent’s creative freedom wisely, you can assure an environment that not only reflects your own aesthetic, but also creates a sense of warm intimacy that would be difficult, if not impossible, in most banquet halls.

The direct proximity to the outdoors opens up an entirely new dynamic of atmosphere and social interaction.

From a distance, at nighttime the tent just glows. They have a very warm and cozy feeling. Receptions are all about creating the sense of intimacy-the sense of space and place. Tent weddings/receptions are romantic and magical. I feel brides always look for these key elements when planning their wedding.

A tent changes the dynamics, climate and culture of an event.

Photo’s Courtesy of Beachview Tent Rentals

The Kanyadaan – A Marriage Sacrament September 7, 2008

From every human being there arises a light that reaches straight to heaven. And when two souls that are destined to be together, find each other, their streams of light flow together and a single, brighter light goes forth from their united being. – Rig Vedas

The coming together of a Man and a Woman in ‘holy wedlock’, is steeped in tradition. India is no exception.

Kanyadaan, giving away one’s daughter in marriage, is considered the greatest sacrifice a man can perform in his lifetime.

In this emotional sacramental ceremony, the parents pour water to symbolize giving their daughter to her new husband.

By conferring the status of sacrament, Indians have elevated marriage from a physical union to a spiritual dimension.

Marriage, in the Indian tradition, has been defined as ” A physical, legal and moral union between men and women, in complete community of life, for the establishment of the family.”

Ethnic Wedding Traditions September 7, 2008

Traditions!

What are traditions? According to the Merriam Webster’s Dictionary traditions are the customs or ways of behaving that have continued in a group of people or society for a long time without changing.

Ethnic traditions are the spice that flavors all weddings the world over!

That may be true for many things, but when it comes to weddings, traditions are defined as the spice of life itself! It is the traditions, especially the ethnic traditions from all around the world that have added the spice “the very essence of life” to the glorious ceremony of the joining of two souls, the ceremony we call marriage.

There are few customs which unite us all as people, but the custom of marriage has been a part of every culture the world has ever known and nowhere has the custom been more enthusiastic, more filled with the joy of life than in the various ethnic wedding traditions handed down with love and music and dance from every corner of the globe!

And why not? Is not the language of love universal? Are not lovers welcomed everywhere with happiness?

Is there a wedding celebration anywhere that hasn’t borrowed some aspect of one of our many ethnic wedding traditions?

I doubt there is a wedding or a reception anywhere in the world today that hasn’t borrowed at least a little bit of the unbridled passion of life from one or more of the many ethnic wedding traditions around them.

Who doesn’t recognize the joyous life-affirming ethnic music of a Jewish wedding, or what bride hasn’t worn a wedding veil, a tradition begun in the Far East and brought back to the western world by the Crusaders of long ago?

The shoe tied to the back of the wedding car is an ancient ethnic symbol of the father relinquishing his authority over his daughter.

And what wedding would be complete without the wedding cake an ancient, ethnic symbol of fertility?

It is from the melting pot of all the ancient ethnic traditions of peoples from all around the world that our present-day wedding ceremonies and wedding receptions and even the honeymoon owe their very existence. Is there a wedding ceremony anywhere in the world that hasn’t borrowed something old or something new from an ethnic wedding celebration somewhere?

The very ring itself, a circle with no beginning and no ending, is an ancient ethnic symbol of everlasting love and the unending power and joy of marriage.

The ethnic wedding ceremony is a joy to behold and an unbridled affirmation of life. Embrace it. Enjoy it. Live it every day of your lives together until death do you part!

Wedding belles and beaux await August 8 August 8, 2008

By Lucy Hornby- Tue Aug 5, 4:46 AM ET

August 8 promises to be a lucky day for Liu Chuan who is getting married and has a ticket for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Liu and his bride will join thousands of Chinese couples queuing at the marriage registry on Friday, an auspicious day for weddings and births because of the number 8, which symbolizes wealth in Chinese.

August 8 is also China’s big day, when the Olympic Games open in Beijing. Organizers added an extra eight for good measure by scheduling the opening ceremony for 8 p.m. “Chinese are partial to the number 8, and Friday is three 8s in a row – the eighth day of the eighth month, 2008. Also, we picked it because of the Olympics,” said Liu, a Beijing resident. “I got a ticket for the opening ceremony that night, but it was only possible to get one, so I will go to the Bird’s Nest (stadium) and my fiancee will watch it on TV at home.”

So many couples are planning to tie the knot on August 8 that Beijing’s marriage registries set up an online service for couples to file paperwork in advance and speed up the process. An estimated 9,000 couples in Beijing alone will get their marriage certificates that day.

“Whenever you get here, you will have to wait. The bureau opens at 8.30 in the morning and some people will come a lot earlier than that to get in line,” said a staff member at the Tongzhou registry, on the outskirts of Beijing, which has booked 500 appointments for Friday.

But despite the flood of weddings, many banquet halls are facing a drought of bookings. Many Chinese get their certificate and hold their banquets on separate days, and August 8 is usually a popular day to hold banquets.

However, most couples will delay the banquet for another day to avoid being upstaged by the opening ceremony, which will feature thousands of performers and extravagant fireworks.

“We thought about holding the banquet that night, but we figured it was inconvenient,” Liu said.

“Since it overlapped with the opening ceremony, most guests probably wouldn’t have the time or the interest to come to our celebration.”

Couples are also worried that transportation could be snarled up on Friday, when about 100 world leaders attend the opening ceremony, said manager Kang of Jinri Jiari Seafood City, where the banquet room is empty on Friday night but fully booked on Saturday and most weekends through October.

(Editing by Keith Weir)

**Photo Courtesy of Yahoo.com and Reuters

Your Wedding Date on 8/8/08 August 8, 2008

Since ancient days, in many cultures, brides and grooms chose their wedding date very carefully. Some days have always been preferred over others.

Even today in the USA, certain dates are considered more popular than others. Traditionally Labor Day, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, the Christmas holiday season and the Thanksgiving weekend are chosen most often for wedding celebrations.

Two very sought after wedding dates in the last century were June 6, 1989 0r 6/7/89 and August 8, 1988 or 8888. As we entered the new century, 2007 offered the unique date: 777.

777 was an incredibly popular day that has been booked as long as 2 years in advance. Wedding venues and professionals lured brides and grooms with special commemorative offers. 2008 offers not one, but two memorable dates that will probably top all of the traditional holiday weekend weddings. In fact, it seems that 6/7/8 and 8/8/8/will be the other 7/7/7.

We have interviewed engaged couples who chose either June 7, 2008 – 678 or August 8, 2008 – 888 as their wedding dates. We also interviewed wedding vendors, professionals and service providers hired by them. Brides and grooms like these dates because they sound cool, and are easy to remember. and wedding vendors, professionals and service providers like them because they are not only great for business but offer room for creativity.

At the writing of this article, October 2007, couples are booking these days and venues are filling very quickly. Wedding locations such as Las Vegas have already announced special deals for brides and grooms marrying on either of these dates.

8 / 8 / 8 weddings

So you thought that marrying on 777 brings luck and that you missed it because you were not quite ready. Guess what? While 7/7/07 will never come around again in our lifetime, you are blessed with 888. That is right! This date too, though less known, brings its own luck and good fortune.

The Chinese certainly think that August 8, 2008 is a very special day because the digits “888″ is believed to be very lucky number to be born or get married on. It is not surprising then that the 2008 Olympic Games will be held in Beijing, China with the opening ceremonies held on Aug. 8, 2008 or 8/8/8. As East meets West and our society encourages cultures to intertwine, many non-Chinese couples have adopted the significance of the numeral 8 especially in multiples, and decided that it is meaningful enough to be chosen as their wedding date. According to Chinese culture, 8 is a Lucky number that stands for prosperity and good fortune.

Triple it and you got a lucky 888-wedding day. When you take the numeral 8 and turn on its side 8, it becomes the symbol for infinity – forever. This is a symbol most fitting to represent love and the beginning of a marriage. If you consider this as the date for your wedding, you are not alone. Though it falls on a friday, three numeral 8 or prosperity and good fortune x3, coupled with eternity is an extremely popular date for weddings.

To read why Friday weddings are gaining popularity CLICK HERE. So, if you opt for 8/8/8 you must hurry, as many venues and vendors are already booked.

We have interviewed engaged couples who chose August 8, 08 – 8/8/8 as their wedding dates as well as wedding vendors, professionals and service providers hired by them.

Brides and Grooms

Having conducted the interviews, we found out that brides and grooms chose it:

1. To add the blessings of prosperity and good fortune X3 to their marriage
2. To add the symbol 8 that means eternity and make their love last forever 8.
3. To have their lives intertwine with no beginning and no end like 2 rings that when intertwined make an 8.
4. To have a long weekend to celebrate. Of great importance was also the fact that the 8th of August falls on a Friday allowing for: a weekend long enough for guests from far away not to have to rush home, also a weekend long enough for relaxing, un-hurried destination weddings. But for many, having it all while saving money tops the cake, so to speak. As of this writing, even with the growing popularity of the date, most vendors have not raised their standard fees though this may change. Currently, a Friday evening wedding in general is less popular and if you hurry and book before vendors decide to cash in on the popularity of 8/8/08 and can get the Friday deals, you may shave at times, almost 50% off its cost of the same wedding on a Saturday or even a Sunday without looking cheap to your friends. Well, is 8/8/8 a lucky day?
5. To have time for a relaxed honeymoon before school starts. The beginning of August has been a desirable time of year for students and those in the education field to get married. They prefer to wed in the summer rather than during the school year and like the idea of marrying and honeymooning in August so they return from their honeymoons just before the beginning of the new school year feeling happy, refreshed and invigorated. August is a also a good month because wedding guests from afar are more open to travel in the summer and because it accommodates outdoor weddings. Now add 888 and you got a perfect date.
6. To have a date that sounds special. Some of those we interviewed said that 8/8/08 has a nice ring to it. One groom who writes greeting cards and is into rhyme and music said that he likes how OUR DATE is 8/8/8 rhythms. He suggested that putting it into music (he plans to do so,) requires musical notes and an octave is a set of 8 musical notes.
7. To draw from the possible creativity it offers.
8. To generate a unique wedding theme. A few couples just liked the way 888 looks on their invitations and the creative decoration ideas it gives them. Others like the theme for their wedding citing possibilities including the introduction of some Chinese motifs into the wedding theme to explain why this date was chosen.
9. To always remember their anniversary. All, with no exception liked the fact that the date is easy to remember. I can certainly identify with this way of thinking. When I chose to get married on the 4th of July, I considered that the date is easy to remember, we’ll be off from work and that every year the entire country will help us celebrate.

Vendors and Locations;
Wedding locations such as Las Vegas, the wedding capita of the world, have already announced special deals for 8/8/8 brides and grooms marrying in what some establishments there call Crazy Eights Weddings. Wedding Vendors, Professionals and Service Providers are getting ready for 8/8/8 weddings with special offers. For example:

1. One Las Vegas hotel offers an, August 8, 2008 package where All Wedding and ceremony Items as well as the accommodations for the bride and groom on the wedding day are included for only $888.00. Excluded are the accommodations for the guests and the costs of the reception.
2. A local photographer we met at a Bridal Show in Southern California said that he had already received over 20 inquiries about her availability on 888. As the show special she offered her advertised price schedule. When I questioned her, she said that she is considering charging extra, due to the high demand for her services on both 6/7/8 and 8/8/8.
3. Wedding Accessories by Nily offers a complete collection of Swarovsky 888 wedding accessories.
4. A friend of ours who is a local wedding officiant, is already totally booked at her facility and forwards couples to other Officiants in and out of the area.

8 IDEAS FOR 8
So, you plan a day full of 8 s and looking for ideas, Have something special happen at your wedding on 8/8/8 at 8:08. Start the ceremony, or exchange vows or rings, or have the toast to the bride and groom, or the first dance or cutting the cake at that time. Seat 8 guests per table. Serve 8 different hors d’oeuvres, 8 courses in the meal, and 8 sweet deserts. Have eight adults in your wedding party Have eight different flowers in your bouquet. Have 8 items in your centerpieces, Instead of an 8-tier wedding cake you may have 8 single layer cakes placed either side by side or on various height pedestals on your cake table.

Copyrights © 2007 All Rights Reserved Nily Glaser – A-wedding Day