Celebration and Peace

Our family went home to South Carolina for a pre-holiday celebration. The kids and I go home twice a year, Thanksgiving and springtime. My husband haven’t been home in 2 years partly due to his last assignment. I planned a family gathering this year and let me tell you the excitement was in the air. The last time the family got together was for a funeral. We had so much fun and there was so much love in the air. My aunt came to me and thanked me for putting the party together. She also told me that I always did things like this even as a little girl. This made me feel soooooo good and confirmed for me that being an Events Planner is truly in my blood.

The peace that came with this visit was that my husband and his father who haven't spoken in almost 10 yrs broke the silence! THANK YOU JESUS! My mother-in-law who did not come to our wedding was VERY happy to see ME! As I was raised, I always gave her my respect and we got to a point that we were cordial to one another but this time her hello was different. My husband who was a little reluctant about the trip in the beginning found PEACE! LOVE! and a BLESSINGS this holiday season.

Celebrate your new beginnings!
Sonya

MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY KWANZA! HAPPY HANNAKAH! Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a Stastny Novy Rok (Czech) Joyeux Noel(French) Froehliche Weihnachten(German)Sung Tan Chuk Ha(Korean) Cestitamo Bozic (Yugoslavian)Faliz Navidad (Spanish) They all mean the same......HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

These are the greetings from the different countries we have visited while on assignment in Europe. No matter who you are or where you are in the world,CHRISTMAS is one thing that we all have in common. Our religion,time of year and styles in which we celebrate this common ground may be different but during this time our hearts are the same. We are all looking for PEACE,LOVE, JOY and BLESSINGS! I hope that all of you find it this Holiday Season!

p.s. This is the tree in our home this year. You know it had to be purple and gold!...lol

Celebrate your new beginnings!

Sonya

Curiosity Questions

I have been BLESSED with four clients since I started my Event Planning business. For some that may not be a big deal but for me I am grateful. I have had several consultation and thought I would share some of the questions I have been asked. I gave it the name “Curiosity” because few of the questions are not your typical FAQ’s.

Curiosity Questions

What does “No occasions is too BIG or too small to be BLESSED!” mean?

It simply means that if life has given you a reason that YOU feel is worth celebrating than CELEBRATE! If it’s party for 200 or a private party for 2 it can’t be too BIG or too small. It is just right for YOU!

What can you do to make my event special or unforgettable?

You, the individual make your event special or unforgettable. Event planners are just here to help you bring it all together. First of all and most importantly be realistic about what you really can afford. An event requires some form or type of financial support.

If you really want to shake things up add a theme or an activity to your event. If you are considering a theme it can be your favorite movie, your favorite place or hobby. Your event is already special, that’s why you are celebrating.

I would like to have a nice wedding but I know we really can’t afford it. Is it possible to still have a nice wedding for less than the average cost?

Absolutely! Couples can celebrate their day at every possible budget level. The average cost of a wedding today (2008) is roughly around the mid to upper $20,000. Don’t let that scare you or count yourself out of the game. Again, you MUST be honest with yourself about what you really can afford. You don’t want to go into a marriage in debt because your wedding day has to out shine the family member or friend whose wedding was before yours.

The beauty of a wedding ultimately has nothing to do with how much money is spent. It is the creativity, thoughtfulness and chosen details that will add so much more to your celebration of LOVE. I recommend that if you can, open an account that has ATM/Debit card capabilities. Put all of your money into this wedding account even if you are pulling from your personal savings. Keep the money for your day separate and in one place. You can do this for any type of event that you are planning. This will help you maintain a clear and more précised view of your budget. It will also keep you from dipping into your regular “Bill Pay” accounts and coming up short when it is time to pay the bills. The bills don’t stop after you say “I DO”

Besides don’t lose site of the purpose of your wedding day. It was LOVE that brought the two of you to a crossroad that you decided to be united as one. The marital bliss that will be shared your wedding day is priceless.

My husband and I decided to plan a party that I wanted to have for years. I do not get along with my step-daughter AT ALL! Is it wrong not to include her in the activities? I really want to enjoy the party?

This is touchy! You need to share your strong feelings with your husband about your step-daughter participating in the activities. I’m sure he is very aware of the awkward relationship that the two of you have. Remember that she is HIS daughter and you need to be open to his response. You should also be prepared to face the music if necessary. He may want her to be there. It sounds like you are really excited about your event, why let one person ruin it for you. You and your step daughter will not be dancing together. You’ll be too busy entertaining your guest which should keep you busy enough to stay clear of her. Your husband loves the both of you please don’t make him feel like he has to take sides. Not only should you use proper etiquettes but also be the strong women that you know you are. Be the bigger person and stand high above your step daughter with dignity and enjoy your party.


How do you accommodate an event that has one side of the family that are “Party Goers” and the other side of the family that are Bible Carriers?

First of all remember that this is YOUR event. When compiling your guest list invite those that will enjoy it with you. If you are really worried about hurting people’s feelings you may want to consider planning your event in two parts. The first few hours can be a social/non-alcoholic cocktail type hour then its party time for those that want to party.

If you are planning a wedding and your reception is going to have that same theme of a party, you can pretty much do the same. Invite your “Bible” carriers to only the ceremony if you think they will clash with the “Party” goers. If it is important that they are apart of your entire day then have a designated time in which alcohol will be served and the party music will be played.

Celebrate your new beginnings!

Sonya

Celebrate your new beginnings!

Sonya

It's in your blood

As I continue to grow in the walk on this new path of my life I came to a few realizations. No matter what religion you are, you’re taught at a young age that your higher power (GOD for me) has your life’s destiny planned out for you before you were even born. I shared with everyone how I gathered the neighborhood kids to search for money on the grounds of the corner store. I then began to remember all the things/events I organized even as a little child. Does this mean that “I” was destined to be an “Events Planner?”

For a while I really did not know what I wanted to study or specialize in to I guess give myself a foundation in life. I call myself a “Jack of all trades” because I have done so many different things BUT…the key point to that is, I’ve always dealt with and love dealing with people. I always wanted to make a difference in someone’s life. I love that feeling of happiness from people and knowing that I was a part of it. Now…you need to be careful because being this way you have a tendency to put yourself on the back burner.

Whatever your title is an Events/Wedding, Planner, Coordinator or Manager, IT HAS TO BE IN YOUR BLOOD! Just like the blood that runs through the human body to keep you alive, it is also the driving force to keep you doing whatever it is that you love to do. When it’s in your blood you don’t give up when faced with a challenge but you take the bull by the horns. When it’s in your blood you keep pushing until you get what you want. You see.. when it’s in your blood you sometimes enjoy the challenges just as much as you enjoy a successful or joyous outcome of your event.

Celebrate your new beginnings!

Sonya

From the mouth of a Babe

I chose this title because I am young in the event planning business. When I returned from our tour in Germany (I am a military wife) the phrase I kept hearing was, “Get paid for doing what you love to do.” It got my wheels turning. I had just shared with my husband that I was going to school for Medical Human Resources. I have to tell you that this decision did not feel right in my bones or in my blood. My last umpteen (many,many) jobs was some type of medical admin position so I felt like it was the thing to do. I thought to myself again, “Do what you love to do” I like doing so many things what would that one special thing be? I got hooked on the Style Network’s TV show “Who’s Wedding is it Anyway” Although I was hooked the thought of being an events planner or owning my business didn’t cross my mind. Late one Tuesday night while going through one of the many boxes to unpack I came across a container. It was filled with plaques, certificates and letters given to me in appreciation for the many events I planned, organized and even coached. While reading all of that I was felt so bubbly inside. (There’s that BLOOD) At age 37 ½, I finally realized what it was that I really love doing and the venture begins.

The media has really called a lot of attention to the Events Planning Industry. If you are looking for a get rich quick fix than this profession is not for you. You have to love what you do to be in this industry. You do not see the journey it took to get to that end result that you saw on TV. True it is a fairly easy and a low start up cost but it can also be challenging especially now. The economy is really tight right now and since the TV shows has everyone thinking they can do this. Like myself, who has planned so many events it is different doing it as a business but I still enjoy it.

I have made some costly decision so make sure you do your research before jumping into anything. If you are thinking about going into this profession, volunteer or intern with a seasoned planner, take classes, attend workshops and talk to people who are already in the industry. I had the opportunity to speak with a planner who has been in business for 20 yrs. She shared with me that her first 3 years in business she had 1 client….yes ONE but she kept pushing and held on to her dream. There are some planners who’s business took off of the ground from day one but don’t enter into it with those expectation. Stay focused and encouraged. What you put into it is what you will get out of it and that is with anything that you decide to do in life. If you work hard it will pay off in the end. (Photo with one of my mentors Linyette Richardson-Hall "The Wedding Diva")

Celebrate your new beginnings!

Sonya

Celebrating New Beginnings

Bless-ed Occasions Event Management (BOEM)
is now spreading it's wings
and has launched it's new blog called,
The Dove...Celebrating New Beginnings!

Bless-ed Occasions Event Management, LLC was passionately established in 2006.The mission is all about bringing a joyful and successful stress free event to every client.There is a personal joy and satisfaction we get in knowing that we were part of helping a client's vision become a reality.

The Dove is an intimate look into the life of an event planner balancing being a wife, mother, sister, friend, full-time employee, & entrepreneur.

The Dove...Celebrating New Beginnings!
www.bless-edoccasions.com
"No occasion is too big or too small to be blessed"