Real Wedding: Byron and Angelique

This past Saturday at the Hillsboro Club, Byron and Angelique joined hands, hearts and lives in the presence of 110 family members and friends. As the sun set and the waves crashed, five handsome men, four gorgeous women and one beautiful bride walked down the aisle to the music of Nancy Gillan.

After the ceremony, the guest retired to the club's patio area to experience a swanky cocktail hour. The guest enjoyed stationary hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, while listening to the smooth sounds of jazz. After taking beautiful pictures, Angelique and Byron joined their guest during cocktail hour...A very nice touch.

The reception was a true celebration. Angelique wanted a party vibe and that was the outcome. The dance floor stayed packed with the sounds and mixes of South Florida's #1 Mixologist, Hans Batista. Everyone was in total party mode. Byron (the groom) took the mic and surprised everyone (especially me) with a sample of his be-bopping skills. I even saw the banquet staff getting their groove on.

Everyone had a fabulous time!

Vendors included:

Harpist: Nancy Gillan
Decor: Tropical Elegance
Music: Hans Batista
Photographer: Ivan Afpel

The Wedding Salon

On November 10th I attended the Wedding Salon Showcase at the Biltmore in Miami. The showcase featured vendors for the sophisticated bride and groom. This showcase seemed smaller than before, but I still had a Fabo time meeting new vendors and networking.

MTV Casting for Engaged and Underaged

INVITE MTV TO HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT ON YOUR SPECIAL DAY!!!

MTV News & Docs is casting for the third season of its popular documentary series “Engaged and Underage.” Let MTV tell your love story – the excitement of the engagement, the ups and downs of the planning, the fun along the way, and, of course, THE BIG DAY!!! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…

You and your future spouse should be between the ages of 18 and 22. Best case scenario: you're getting married in November/December 2008 or January 2009.

TO APPLY FOR THE SHOW, DOWNLOAD A CASTING QUESTIONNAIRE AT: http://www.mtv.com/content/casting_call/engaged/casting_questionnaire.doc

OR EMAIL MTV TO OBTAIN ONE AT: engagedandunderage@mtvstaff.com. (Tell us when and where you are getting married and why this is important to you. Include your name, phone number, email address and a digital photo of you and your future spouse, if possible.

Consultant Corner: Q&A

One of the first questions to ask a vendor (before) issuing a deposit is just that. "Do you have liability insurance?" Most venues require that outside vendors provide them with a copy of their insurance certificates. If the vendor does not have liability insurance you can ask your venue if an insurance waiver will suffice. If there are NO EXCEPTIONS, all is not lost. There are insurance companies that provide liability insurance on a per event bases. Some brides and grooms will even add their vendor to their home insurance (I don't suggest that).

Bottom line: if your venue requires all outside contractors to have liability insurance and your contracted vendor does not have it, they will not be able to service your event. For example, your DJ doesn't have insurance = your event will not have music. As the saying goes, "Its better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it".

Don't Break the Bank

Weddings can be extremely costly. Traditionally, the bride's parents would foot the bill for the wedding, but today most couples are paying for their wedding expenses themselves. Protect yourself in the beginning by drafting a clear realistic budget and sticking to it. Your goal is to achieve the wedding you've always envisioned without exceeding your stated budget. If it means placing your budget worksheet in a prominent location and referring to it before making a spontaneous purchase-do it! You will thank yourself later. The last thing you want to think/stress about after returning from your honeymoon is the mountain of debt you acquired from overspending.

Welcome to the exciting world of events!

Whether it's the birth of a newborn, a graduation, wedding, or retirement, throughout our lives there are many occasions worth celebrating.

Orchestrated Occasions' blog will provide:

• Event Spotlights
• Tips and how to's
  
• Updates on the latest trends & products
• Questions & Answers
  
• Information on the hottest vendors and venues and so much more...

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