There was a time when wedding planners were an extravagance reserved only for the mega-rich and famous, and most brides (along with their mothers) accepted the reality that they would have to shoulder every task themselves. 

Not so today.  Hiring a coordinator is, if not commonplace, increasingly popular. Why? Women are marrying later in life, often have jobs that don't leave them a lot of free time, and may well be trying to plan their event from hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Having a level-headed, organized professional around to take on some of  the burden is still a luxury, but many brides feel that the payoff -- less time focused on the little details, more time focused on the big day -- is priceless. A good planner will be "worth their weight in gold".

What will a planner do for you? He or she will suggest vendors and negotiate with them for the best price and service; take care of the responsibilities you'd prefer not to tackle; be there the day of the event to make sure everything runs smoothly; and serve occasionally as an impromptu therapist when mounting wedding stress turns you into a crazed, tulle-obsessed mess. A good planner wears the hats of many roles assisting you through out the wedding process so that you may enjoy your engagement and look forward to your wedding day as a stress free lovely occasion, just as it should be.

Call us today 919-810-0777 for your complimentary appointment to talk about your wedding plans and dreams!

                                                               Let us help you make your day A Joyful Occasion.

The wedding has been planned and everything is on go but have you gotten your marriage license??

Below are a few of the requirements that you need to know about when you and your fiancee head out the door to get that all important slip of paper.  Pay attention, this you will want to get right!!!

• Requirements to obtain a marriage license vary from state to state. It is important to call ahead of time and make sure that you apply with the proper documents.
• The law usually requires you to wait one to three days after you receive your marriage license before you can get married. The license is typically only good for 60 days, so you are better off getting your license the week or two before the wedding.
• The marriage license is usually issued the same day you apply for it, but there are restrictions on when and where it can be used.
• Identification of some kind is usually required: driver’s license, birth certificate, military identification. If you were born outside of the US, you may be required to provide additional information.
• If you were married before, you should know the date and place of your divorce or annulment.
• Both the bride and groom must go to the marriage bureau or clerk’s office in person.
• Some states may require a blood test or health certificate.
• The Ultimate Internet Wedding Guide has information available for all 50 states

Once you have obtain the license put it in a save place and be sure to have one someone in charge of getting it to the rehearsal and into the hands of the officiant. I always recommend that you go ahead and pay for a second copy at the time and place that copy in a lock box after you receive it in the mail. This can save you many headaches down the road!

Outdoor weddings are just beautiful and a delight to attend in most cases but........

One of my weddings took place underneath the oldest and largest black walnut tree in North Carolina on a beautiful fall day.

Everything was going to be gorgeous. We had the beautiful, graceful tree with shade right next to a garden of flowers in bloom, the right placement and color of the chivari chairs, had lined aisles with pots of fall flowers, had special wrought iron seats for the parents to view the wedding, special stones under the tree for the bridal party to stand on but there was two items that hadn't even crossed my mind that I needed to deal with.  How do we keep the big black walnuts from falling and hitting the bridal party and guest during the ceremony and what do we do with the huge black SNAKES that lived in this tree from scaring the guest away?

Ah, the problem solving we do!  This is just one of the many reasons why you hire a planner to assist with your wedding.  They can solve the problems that might arise, they can make your wedding run smoothly and stress-free, and create a beautiful affair to be enjoyed by all.
 
I did solve all of these problems, the wedding was on time and lovely, no snakes attended and only one walnut escaped. It was a big success and memorable too!! 

I would love to use my expertise again to assist you for your wedding. Call Joy at 919-810-0777 or email joy@ajoyful-occasion.com

                                        Traingle Ladies Power Luncheon

On Wed. June 9th I will be attending an educational luncheon at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Raleigh called Triangle Ladies Power Luncheon . I have been asked to sit at the V.I.P. table with Carrie Peele, owner of Blue Diamond Limo who is the creator of this new group in the triangle area. 

These luncheons, which will meet once a month, will be showcasing successful triangle women in businesses, generating professional alliances, discover business opportunities and building friendships with other women-owned businesses.
 
The speaker for this luncheon will be Mary Cantando, an expert in women-owned businesses and a nationally- recognized author. She has appeared on CBS and NPR television, and is a frequent media source for the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company Magazine, Enterprizing Women Magazine, Selling Power and Entrepreneur Magazine. 

The luncheon promises to be an educational, informative and an exciting day for the100 Ladies who will be attending! 

Flowers can make your event really pop and be a standout!  So, spend some time and consideration when making those choices for your wedding or event. 

Some excellent flowers to consider when making those big decisions for your summer affair are Cosmos, Dahlia, Delphinium, Gardenia, Gerbera Daisy, Gladiolus, Hydrangea, Iris, Lily, Lisianthous, Orchid, Poppy, Rose, Sweet Pea,  Zinnia. They are all beautiful, come in array of colors and are only limited to your imagination! 

Call us for further assistance 919-810-0777.

A sweetheart of a deal just came across my email.  Sandal Resorts are offering a February special for destination weddings and/or honeymoons. Book a honeymoon or wedding and get 65% off a package plus 2 days free!!  This is the best deal yet and the only stipulation is a blackout date on Feb. 13 -15th.  If you are thinking of a warm, sunny relaxing beach with lovely accommodations then give Joy  a call at 919-810-0777 or click on the Sandal logo under Weddings or About Us section on the website www.ajoyful-occasion.com for pricing. Ah, if we could only be there now!!

He has popped the question and you said "YES".  So, what's next?

The Ring

If you did not receive a ring at the time of the proposal, then this is the chance to select a ring together. If he would like to surprise you with the ring, then go shopping together to look at styles and let him make the final choice. It is also helpful to discuss your budget first and have some guidelines in mind before you shop. Researching is invaluable at this stage, the more you know about diamonds, their cuts, the different quality and style, the greater your chances will be in making an wise and informed decision. Purchase a quality ring, the best that your budget will allow. Remember, you want a ring to last, look good, and to be happy with for years to come.

Who Do You Tell First

Etiquette states that you should tell your parents first. Whether you decide to share the news together or to tell them privately on your own, it's the parents who should have the honor of hearing the news before anyone else. Once the groom has told his parents, the groom's mother should call the bride's parents and arrange a meeting to meet.  After the parents have been told of the couple's engagement, then the news can be told to other family members, relatives and friends.

Length Of Engagement

Couples today are busy people whether it's a career or still going to school, time is of essence. Therefore, the ideal length of engagement is between nine months and one year, unless there are specific reasons for a shorter one. This gives the couple time to plan and to enjoy the process without having the high stress that a shorter engagement may bring.

Engagement Parties

For the most part, the bride's family will usually take on the role of hosting an engagement party. Although  today, it's not unusually for close friends of the parents or members of the bridal party to throw the party instead .  

Gifts

Unlike the wedding, guest are not expected or required to bring a gift to the party. If they do, they should be open later, not in front of the guests. If a gift is open in front of the giver and you have the opportunity to thank them in person, then a thank you note is not required.  A written thank you note should be sent to the giver of a gift if you are not able to thank them in person when their gift is open. However, thanking your guest with a thank you note is never out of fashion and shows good manners. 

NATIONWIDE TOUR OF GOWNS

 "FIND THE GOWN OF YOUR DREAMS AND MAKE A WISH COME TRUE"

Brides Against Breast Cancer™ gown sales continue to be an important fund-raising event for Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation™. Our 32 yearly shows provide brides-to-be with a unique opportunity to find their dream gown at an incredible savings, while making wishes and dreams come true for women and men who are losing their fight against breast cancer. Most gown prices range from $99 to $799*, more than half the gowns presented during each event are NEW designer gowns that arrived directly from bridal shops, trunk shows and manufacturers. The Nationwide Tour of Gowns has something for everyone, boasting a wide range of styles and fabrics, in sizes 4 to 24. Slips, veils, shoes and other accessories are also available in select locations. *Exclusive designer and couture gowns valued up to $20,000 are also available at an incredible 25% to 75% savings.

Pre-register at www.nc.weddingpro.com  or at BridesAgainstBreastCancer.org.

All profits are donated to the Making Memories Foundation
The Assocation of Bridal Consultants will be hosting once again their annual Brides Against Breast Cancer Charity Gown Sale during the weekend of February 5-7 at the Raleigh Sheraton downtown hotel.  Everyone is invite to attend this charity event for free on Sat. from 10-6:00 p.m. and on Sun. 10-5:00 p.m. 

The fund raiser begins with a ticketed event for a preview of the gowns for sale and a VIP dinner Friday evening Feb. 5th.  On Sat. and Sun.brides can purchase the wedding gowns and meet with a variety of vendors in the wedding industry. 

If you are a bride and haven't purchased your gown yet, this is a wonderful opportunity to have a beautiful gown for unheard prices and to help others at the same time who are less fortunate. I hope I will see you there!
For more information you may go the www.nc.weddingpro.com

We are excited to announce that A Joyful Occasion has been selected by  The Knot as the “Best of Weddings 2010 Pick” in the wedding planner category in the Southeast Region of the United States.  

 

An independent survey company was asked to conduct surveys from newlyweds in the area. These surveys included a variety of criteria pertaining to the vendors that each newlywed had engaged for their wedding. The criteria had categories such as professionalism, quality of service, and creativity and each, was rated by the couple  . Our goal has always been to achieve excellence and success for every wedding and to have happy contended clients. Therefore, we are honored and thrilled by such a prestigious award from The Knot and from our clients!

 

The Knot is one of America's leading wedding resources for engaged couples reaching them  through award-winning website, books, magazines, and broadcast offerings.

 

You can find us listed in The Knot's Best of Weddings publication at local news stands and on their website at www.theknot.com.