100 years

When it comes to birthdays most of us dread them after a certain age.  Though I'm sure there comes a time where you just don't mind anymore. (Note, that I am not there yet but anyways...) About 8 months or so ago, Ellen asked if I would assist in planning her aunt's 100th birthday.  How could I not say YES!  This is usually a once-in-a-lifetime event, and to top it off, Lena and I share the same birthday.  

We celebrated this past Saturday at the Arbors in Manchester. Lena was surrounded by family, friends and her best friend Barbara who is 95.  These ladies have been friends since they were in their 20's.  Lena may be 100 but shows no real signs of slowing down and I started thinking what would I want to have accomplished if I'm lucky enough to reach 100. 

I'm not looking for fame or fortune, since I feel fortunate enough being able to have a job that I love.  It gives me great joy and I don't see ever really stopping this one side of me. So what else do I want by 100...

Well, I would like to know that I've raised my children to be the best gentlemen they can be.  To have love for life, to never expect to be given anything but appreciative of what they have and I hope they find something that drives them forward in life.  I also hope we will be able to talk with each other (mind you we aren't in real teenage years yet, I'm sure there will be a time I don't wish to speak to them...lol), enjoy a lunch or dinner together and I want to see what drives them.  My biggest wish is that I have raised two boys who will be the best of friends to each other, realizing that there will be times they will fight but at the end of the day, they need to make sure they still stand by each other.  I don't want to teach them to compare themselves to each other ever but just enjoy who they will grow up to be. `

In this full life I plan to continue leading means, of course, a set of good friends. I don't need many, just good ones.  I find such great pleasure in sitting around a nice campfire, with margaritas in hand discussing the old times, laughing and just enjoying time off.

I will continue to enjoy helping couples start a new chapter in their lives. I love seeing not only my couples enjoy their wedding but the rest of their lives.  They become Facebook friends, and I love seeing where their married lives take them.  Not sure if it will be Facebook or Google+ by the time I reach 100 but I hope I still understand how to use the programs. 

In these upcoming years I would like to find the best way to carry my phone with me at weddings.  You may think this is odd but most dresses don't have pockets, a fanny pack isn't going to happen so this means the phone in my bra strap most of the time. While I could go with a headset and it clipped somewhere on my body, I don't really want to look like a gap employee.

Last of all, I hope to continue to always know how to love and be loved. :)

So tomorrow I have the pleasure of not only sharing my birthday with Lena who turns 100 but also with my father.  There has never been a time I didn't enjoy sharing my birthday with him. (Okay I think when he turned 68 and my mother planned an army camouflage party, but besides that one time, I've always loved it)  I plan on looking at each birthday as a moment to reflect, not regret and to see what I can accomplish next. 

Ocean Love

We meet them all, the ones who hate to plan, and the ones that love to plan!  Jessica was our girl who LOVED to plan.  She had planning her wedding since the day she knew in her heart that Kris was the one and maybe not openly plan, but I know she was taking notes.  

Jessica and Kris were married on May 21st of this year. We couldn't have asked for a better day and seeing how they partied throughout the entire night, I'm sure no one wanted the day to end. 

Bride created this for a ring bearer!

While with every wedding there are a few ups and downs ( a missing cake, a few broken vases but everything was fixed) , it was a real pleasure to see Jessica and Kris, along with their friends and families focus on the real reason they were there.  Their love!!  Everything else was a bonus, a BIG FUN FILLED BONUS but they never lost focus on the fact that they were started a life together.  

Jessica asked for a custom cake stand and this we did!

 

 

Mr. & Mrs

One of my favorites, a very helpful groomsman!

Our custom created card box for Jessica.

Location: Ocean Beach, New London
Gowns: Melissa Ashley Brides
Flowers: Stylish Blooms
Invitations: estoPrints (Jessica joined and heads up our invitation team due to her amazing talent)
Photography: Peter Black from Wedding Bells Photography
Planning & Design:  Jessica and ESTOccasions
Make Up: Beauty Bar
Hair:
Cakes: Chocolate Rose
DJ: Jamkat Entertainment

Pic Pick

Pic Pick

Which would you pick to wear if you had to  (yes someone is forcing you to wear to wear one of them) 

A. 

or 

B.

Then again maybe you would wear both.  I think I would. :)

My Wedding Wish

I like Boston, I really do but, what I like the best is that I can park outside of Boston and take the T in.  Not yesterday though, with over 50 lbs of candy, the jars, and candles there was no way I was going take the T.  I was forced to old school it since the easypass was in the other car but with my trusty GPS I headed out.  I think it only recalculated a total of 6 times but in my defense it was a confusing spot.  

ANYWAYS, I was there for the Wish Upon a Wedding Boston & New England Launch. This is something I've wanted to take part in for a long time.  As you may know, I have a set of vendors ready to grant a wish (& a few to spare), and I'm looking forward to making sure this is something that happens a lot here in CT and New England.  The issue was getting the word out to the right people when I started this and the Wish Upon a Wedding Organization is the right way to go about it.  

As a wish granter, we will be doing something we already do as wedding professionals.  We will be donating our skills for deserving couples to take a break for the illness and just enjoy life, and love.  I think it takes the right kind of wedding professional to do this, because it isn't about the money, or the time, or a pat on the back.  It is about a couple that deserves to have their moment with their family and friends.  This is a personal goal I'm going to be setting for myself and ESTOccasions, to AT LEAST do 2 Wish Upon a Wedding Weddings a year.  

Our cute and stylish blow pops
photographed by Jen Osojnicki.

To start off, myself along with David Long from DL Video Productions (who created last nights video, I will share as soon as I get the link) are hosting an event Engaged~Hartford at the Bushnell on August 11th.  It is open to anyone who is engaged and wants to have have a modern, trendy and chic approach to their wedding. There will be a few different speakers, food, drinks and more all for $5 a person.  The best part is that we are donating all ticket proceeds to the Wish Upon a Wedding Organization.  This way, start planning your dream wedding while helping someone else have their dream wedding.  

The ticket link will be up shortly and the best part, I'm using a paypal service which allows you to DONATE or GIFT your ticket price, which means no fees!  Hope to see you at Engaged~Hartford and if you need help on becoming a wish granter let me know. 

Wednesday Pic Pick

We LOVE doing the love & hates weekdays on our facebook page.  They have been a huge hit with all of you and thank you for all of the comments, the thoughts, the love and the hates.  Now every few days we are going to post a PIC PICK.  You need to tell us which one would you pick. Comment here on the blog or on facebook.  Your choice. 


Which would you pick to have your girls wear?  Or which would you like to wear?


PICK ONE

PICK TWO

Share your comments here or on FACEBOOK.  Thank you everyone.  Plus if you are having a hard time picking between two things, send it to us and we will post it for you, and you can take a peek at what people think.  THANK YOU

Vendor Wars

I often feel that couples pick vendors that speak to them and they never consider the fact that all these different types of vendors working together could be an issue.  There should never be an issue between vendors because they were all paid to do their job at the wedding and as long as they remain professional, the couple should be pleased. 


Though I've been noticing a ton of frustration from my social networking vendor friends about vendors working against each other instead of working together.  Seems like a lot of wasted energy that could be put towards making the couple's event successful. Being that we are in full wedding season, it has been back to back wedding, I've had the chance to see the good and the bad.  Great example of consideration was Kurt from Fun Factory DJ, saying he was going to play one more slow song to allow the photographer who had been banished to totally different room to eat his dinner, time to get back to photograph the father daughter dance. He could have continued with what was planned and never given it a second thought but he knew that the couple would miss out. The best part was that while I was fetching the photographer, no one knew that the DJ had planned one extra song. 


Now onto the bad, I had been given instructions by the family to make sure the vendors were able to eat throughout the event.  During a break in the line at the buffet station, the photographer quickly and quietly went through the line before the next table showed up.  Next before a new table went up, I sent the videographers through, (knowing they had been working with this family for close to 2 days of 10 plus hours, and needed to be fed). They went and sat on a rock outside the tent and ate quickly to ensure they could be back to work. Vendors quickly moved in and out never bothering a single guest.  Now our poor bartender who was hired by the family, and I WAS TOLD to make sure she eats before her shift ends is in line with guests all around her, and the catering manager YELLS at her that vendors shouldn't be in line with the guests. Talk about an awkward moment not just for the bartender but for the guests. 


As a planner, I attempt for vendors to get along, to remind them of the bigger picture.  Videographers and Photographers should work out a plan of attack when it comes to the wedding.  I loved hearing David from DL Video Productions once state that he tells photographers that take the first 30 seconds or minute of the first dance and then leave me the rest of the song to film them without flashes going off.  This way both vendors have shown off their talent, be professional and the couple WINS.


When you meet with your vendors (or have your planner do this) let them know you expect them to work together for the success of your wedding day!!  

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

I’m often asked how I become a planner and designer and where this passion has come from.  I always thought I had my answer but recently I realized it started sooner than I thought.

This passion has to have come from my mother. Granted I don’t think it was something she taught me but more like opened my eyes to it. She showed me ways to add just a touch of detail to a birthday present, or how to group together unlike items and make them seem as though they belong. And with a little extra effect, you could take something simple and make it timeless. I’ve taken this talent into my business.

One of the best gifts she gave me was my voice.  Though I’m sure there were times could have done without the voice, like my teenage years just to name a few. This determined voice that I have, keeps me moving forward always. One of the best uses I’ve found is speaking up for my clients needs.

Ema, (mother in Estonian) also showed me the importance of color, and set into place a fondness just for color, the combinations, the subtleness and how a story can come from these colors.  Our family photos are color coordinated, and certain holidays like Christmas are given a color scheme. I’m not speaking simple red and green, but how about sable & silver, charcoal & diamond, peach & copper and well I could go on.  This years combo is Birch and Fir  (I already have birch paper) There is a sense of satisfaction on finding the perfect wrapping paper or ribbon in the right color.  One of my favorite parts are when couples come to me with color combinations and we discuss what works with the space and for them as a couple.  

I do have to thank my mother because with her continued support for my family, and myself I am able to do what I do. There is such a comfort in knowing that my boys are in good hands when we work 12 hours on event day.  Plus as an added bonus I know she is building memories with my children, which will last them a lifetime.  Aitah.  (Thank you in Estonian)

Happy Mother’s Day