Peanuts characters are © Charles M. Schulz

Source:  (http://i-love-cartoons.com/snags/clipart/Thanksgiving/Snoopy-Woodstock-Thanksgiving-Dinner.php)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!  This is a special day in which we give thanks for the blessings in our lives, for family, friends, home, hearth, and health.  We especially give thanks for those who are currently serving, or have served in the past, in our nation’s armed forces.  It is through the efforts of these brave people, that we are able to gather with our loved ones today, to celebrate.

My family starts the day with a time-honored tradition in our household by watching the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  It’s a lot of fun to watch all of the bands, balloons, and floats.  I can very well appreciate all of the manpower, time and effort it takes to pull off one of the largest events in New York City every year.  After the parade, we watch the annual Purina National Dog Show, from Philadelphia.  It’s very cool to see all of the different breeds of dogs, and to guess which ones might win.  Then it’s on to dinner, with lots of good home cooking, and then football and dessert!  Inevitably, more than one family member will fall asleep watching whatever game is on tv, and we tend to make bad jokes about whoever falls asleep first, or who’s snoring the loudest.

But no matter what occurs during the day, it’s always good to spend the time with my family and friends, and to appreciate every moment.  That’s what counts the most!  I hope you enjoy your time with your loved ones.  Enjoy!

I am pleased to announce the Engagement of Amanda & Jason.  They will be getting married in October of 2010, in Massillon, Ohio.  The wedding ceremony will be held at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church in Massillon.  The reception is yet to be determined.

This is a very special couple for me to work with, as Amanda has been my daughter’s dance teacher at Vivian Munson Dance Studio for the last 2 years.  We have become very good friends.  Jason is a carrier for the United States Postal Service, and I am looking forward to knowing him better as time goes on.  Amanda and Jason are high school sweethearts, and are so darling together.  Their color pallete will include several shades of purple:  plum, lavender, fuschia/berry, and silver.  Amanda is a true romantic at heart, and a self-professed “girly-girl”, so we will be including lots of crystals and “bling”, to match her sparkling personality.  There are other details that will be very important to the couple:  good music choices for the ceremony and reception, lots of personal, handmade touches to make their guests feel welcome, great food, and a few surprises along the way.

I can’t wait to make Amanda and Jason’s wedding so special for them!  Congratulations, you two, and Best Wishes for a lifetime of love and happiness!!

Hello Everyone!

I finally am able to post some of the pictures of Holly and James’s wedding, that took place in Youngstown this past May.  These pictures were taken by my dear friend and associate, Amanda.  Please forgive the odd placement of the images.  I am not a great editor.  Enjoy!

End of the Year Promotion!!

Hello Everyone!

Just wanted to share our latest promotion with all of you:  from now until 12/31/09, when you book an event with us, you can save 25% on any wedding or event planning package, or combination of services!!  In this economy, you need all the savings you can get!  What better way to end your year, or start the new one off right!  If the event that you book isn’t taking place until 2010…the discount will still apply.  We want to help you celebrate your birthday, quinceanera, holiday party, anniversary, wedding or baby shower, football tailgate, wedding or any other special event.  So hurry and contact us for your FREE consultation today!

Be sure to check out our contact page for more information.  Let’s party!!

Rah! Rah! Rah!  Sis Boom Bah!  Go Team!! 

It’s football season once again!  I love this time of year, with the cooler temps and leaves changing colors.  High school football is in full swing, and that means tailgates, hot dogs, and cold drinks.  I have often thought about having clients that would like a sports themed wedding.  Since I live in Massillon, Ohio, home of the famous Tigers, it’s kind of hard not to imagine the possibilities.  Canton is also nearby, as well as being close to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and several great colleges and universities with football programs. 

Therefore, I would like to post an open discussion, where you, the reader, can add your thoughts and ideas to this theme.  What kind of decorations would you use?  What kinds of food would you serve?  What would you wear?  What favors would you give your guests, and what kind of entertainment would you have?  All ideas and comments are welcome!  Have fun with this!  Enjoy!

Picture credit:  (http://www.magicalday.com/Cake_Toppers/Football/football_small.jpg)

Hello Everyone!

I thought I would share an idea for styling a wedding, that I find utterly charming.  Vintage feel weddings are very popular right now, with lots of homemade touches and antique pieces.  One concept I am working with right now is yellow gingham and milk glass.  Yellow is such a cheery color, and great for any affair.  Milk glass items are definitely hot right now, as white pops against the yellow.  Add vintage lace trims such as eyelet, battenburg, and hand crocheted-doilies, and you have a sweet and sentimental setting for a fabulous party.  Below are some examples of this look:

Image courtesy of Snippet and Ink  (www.snippetandink.blogspot.com)

Image courtesy of flickr    (www.flickr.com)

Image courtesy of Etsy   (www.etsy.com)

Image courtesy of ElseaChelsea  (www.elseachelsea.typepad.com)

Image courtesy of Nick and Allie Wedding   (www.nickandalliewedding.com)

Image courtesy of High Street Market   (www.highstreetmarket.blogspot.com)

Hope you enjoy this concept, and will be inspired for your own celebration!

Holly and James Justice

I am pleased to announce the Marriage of Holly Tarnaski and James Justice, on Saturday, May 9th, 2009 at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Youngstown, Ohio.  The afternoon wedding took place at the Kidston Pavillion.  Fellows Riverside Gardens are formal gardens, which are part of the Mill Creek Metro Parks.  The Kidston Pavillion is set inside an area filled with boxwood and roses, with a lovely flagstone terrace, and overlooks one end of the lake in the parks.  Inside the pavillion, the Harmony String Quartet provided the lovely music for the simple and heartfelt wedding ceremony.  The Prelude included traditional tunes, such as “Ave Maria”, “Air on the G String”, “Spring” from the Four Seasons, “Trumpet Voluntary”, and one of my personal contemporary favorites, “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban.   Since the bridal party consisted of simply Holly & James, their parents, and grandmothers, the music for their processional was “Winter Largo”, by Vivaldi.  Holly then made her entrance on her parents’ arms to the sounds of Pachelbel’s ”Canon in D”.  The pavillion is architectually stunning, so very little was needed in the way of decorations for the ceremony.  Eight large pots of yellow and white daisies were placed around one side of the pavillion, forming an area for Holly, James and the Reverend Wayne Doberstyn of Creative Wedding Officiants to conduct the ceremony.  Daisies are Holly’s favorite flower, so they were featured prominently in her bouquet, flowers for the bridal party, and in the reception decor.  The daisies, and bridal party flowers were provided by Sweet Arrangements Florist.

The reception dinner was held at Bruno’s Restaurant, in Boardman, Ohio.  The decor of this restaurant is warm and inviting, and the food is wonderful.  The staff is very accommodating to your every request.  Anna and Betty were the attendants for the wedding reception, overseeing every aspect of setup from the linens to the cookie table, which is a Northeast Ohio – Western Pennsylvania tradition.  They also went over and beyond their duties to help decorate the guest tables as well.  Truly a wonderful experience to work with them.

We had a very intimate cocktail hour, followed by great appetizers and a fabulous dinner.  After dinner, Holly and James cut into their cake, and shared cupcakes with everyone.  Mingling followed as the evening wound down.  It was a beautiful wedding, and I was very honored to share this couple’s special day!

Thank you Holly and James, and Best Wishes!!

Wedding Coordinator:  Kimberly Lehman and Amanda Noel

Wedding Officiant:  Reverend Wayne Doberstyn (www.creativeweddingofficiants.com)

Ceremony Musicians:  Harmony String Quartet  (www.myspace.com/harmonystring)

Ceremony Location:  Kidston Pavillion, Fellows Riverside Garden   (www.millcreekmetroparks.com)

Chair Rentals:  T R Party Centre & Rentals               (http://trpartycentre.com/)

Photographer:  Michelle Gilbert, SnoWhite Images    (www.snowhiteimages.com)

Reception Location:  Bruno’s Restaurant and Catering    (www.brunosrestaurantandcatering.com)

Florist:  Sweet Arrangements Florist       (www.sweetarrangements.com)

Image courtesy of SnoWhite Images  (www.snowhiteimages.com)

Hello Everyone!!  

I wanted to share a very sweet poem that was written by my dear friend Terri.  Enjoy!!

I felt it was time to add another inspiration board to my growing collection.  Shades of purple and silver have been favorites of mine to use for some time now.  It’s a very regal combination, and can be used in every season of the year.  In the spring and summer, you can use lavender and lilac.  In the autumn and winter months, you can use plum, royal purple, eggplant, slate and charcoal grey, and pewter.  Around the Christmas holidays, you can jazz things up with jewel tones and sparkling silver.  The possibilities are endless. 

I see this board as being used for a late summer to mid-winter affair, with colors and textures being rich and plentiful.  A true feast for the senses.  This is where you can indulge in velvets, satins, silks, and lush bouquets of calla lilies, roses and other blooms.  Imagine the walls of your event venue being splashed with washes of red and blue lighting to compliment your tables.  Picture your event with lots of romantic candles everywhere, and the heavenly scent of your flowers in full bloom, atop gleaming silver candleabras, and shimmering tableclothes.  Sound good?  I can’t wait to bring my ideas to life!  Enjoy!