Raise your glasses! Let the toasts begin!

As an industry professional often times people come to me with various questions concerning etiquette.  Recently "the toast" was high on the must mention list.  We all agree that getting married is such an exciting and emotional event.  There's also a lot of work to do, so it's a very good time to use our emotional intelligence. If you struggle in that area hire a coach or seek the assistance of the wedding coordinator.


A suggested order for toasting during the Rehearsal Dinner is:

• The best man toasts the bride
  
• The bride toasts the groom
  
• The groom toasts the bride's mother
  
• The bride's father toasts the groom's parents.

During the Reception, the order might be:

• The best man toasts the bride and groom
  
• The groom toasts the bride and her family;
  
• The (two) father(s) toast the bride and groom
  
• The bride and groom toast each other.

Things to Remember:
1. Keep the toast at 2 minutes. A toast should be short, sweet and sentimental.
2. Stand and deliver! Sit down if it's for you. If you're giving the toast, you should stand up.
3. Make sure all the glasses are full before you begin.
4. First thing, announce your relationship to the bride and groom. Everyone may not know.
5. Use personal anecdotes; how the bride and groom met is always popular. Or how you met either of them, if you're not a relative.
6. Don't give a long string of characteristics. Rather choose a few adjectives, hitting the high points, i.e., she's lovely, vivacious and kind.
7. Use tasteful humor and don't do "in" jokes that only a few will get. You want to include, not exclude.
8. Stay PG-rated.  Yes, everyone has a past but now isn't the time to bring up that Miami trip in college.  It's your responsibility on this important occasion to make sure you are NOT offensive to anyone.
9. End on a serious note. Finish with a wish, a blessing, cheers! or congratulations. "To the bride and groom" always works. 
10. Practice your toast a lot beforehand. This is not the time to "wing it".
11. Do not mention past girlfriends, past marriage, or past relationships. Aside from it being ultra tacky, that's what the bachelor party is for.
12. And don't end with something negative which may slip into your mind if you aren't prepared like, "I like Judy, she's a nice girl but they called him "sling a lot" for a reason - so good luck" 

~ Peaceful Planning


Getting Married and need assistance?Email Me for current specials For All Your Event Planning Needs Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. Sharon Patrice, Owner Simple Perfect Peace Events Designs by Shay

June Venue Spotlight: theWit Hotel

After attending the Essence/Dark & Lovely Event at theWit Hotel I decided I should do an extensive Examiner article interviewing staff and showing all the great features of this new modern, chic and swank hotel. Located near some fabulous shopping on State street this spectacular wedding venue is more than a hotel but an "experience" and sits next to the Chicago Theater and the rest of the theater district.

With packages starting at $155.00 (includes Cocktail Hour on ROOF) there are NO room rental or ceremony fees. The capacity at theWit is 200 with full-size stage and dance floor or 400 for a cocktail style reception.  If you have an interest in hosting your ceremony at theWit, 300 of your guests can be accommodated.   Why stop there?  theWit can host all your pre and post wedding events.  Let the professional staff at this hotel with no limits assist in making your dream a reality!

 (all photo's provided by theWit)

Getting Married and need assistance?Email Me for current specials For All Your Event Planning Needs Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. Sharon Patrice, Owner Simple Perfect Peace Events Designs by Shay

Bachelorette Parties!

Let's just say you're in Chicago and looking for something else to do for your friend the bride and a few of her dearest friends.. have you considered private cooking classes?  This low-key idea comes from Give Me Some Sugar, a Chicago-based culinary instruction company, offers private, in-home cooking classes on a myriad of topics, including cake decorating and candy making. For $75 a person (for a group of 9 to 12), the company will bring everything you need to cook up a delicious treat (including all ingredients, utensils, and a 2.5 hour lesson which Chef Alekka). The best part: After the lesson is over, you and your gals can kick back and dig in while the cooking staffers do all the cleaning. For more information or to book a class, visit Give Me Some Sugar. (source Wedding Bits)

Getting Married and need assistance?Email Me for current specials For All Your Event Planning Needs Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. Sharon Patrice, Owner Simple Perfect Peace Events Designs by Shay

Another Magical Monday...

Greetings lovers of romance!!!  Where has the time gone?  Last time I blogged was May 13th when I was preparing for the live recording of Shekinah Glory Ministries.  Well that was a huge success and I hit the ground running right into other projects.
  

Wedding season is upon us and in full bloom but this past weekend I took a few days to just get out and see some things....  

My first stop on Saturday was The Wit hotel in Chicago where Soft Sheen-Carson, in partnership with Essence magazine hosted Dark & Lovely's model search for the start of it's national advertising campaign.  A panel discussion led by Fashionista/Model/Actress LisaRaye McCoy, celebrity stylist Carlton Jones and hairstylist Eric Bland addressed a variety of beauty and fashion issues from appropriate attire to spiritual well being and foundation fundamentals ranging from intimate apparel to self-esteem.  What's a fashionista event without some hot shoes?

 

Next up was the Skinny Cow - Perfect Fit event.  Veronica Webb was on site to give away free makeovers by two awesome make up artists LaToya and Tia.   Not only were the women measured for the "right fit" considering 80% of women have on the wrong size; they also enjoyed hor'dourves, a signature drink and the new Skinny Cow Ice Cream Flavors that only have 150 calories... go ice cream!

Both those events left me TIRED to say the least.  On Sunday, after meeting with my bride, I had the honor of attending the VIP book signing of Grace Ormonde at Trump Tower Chicago.  For those in the wedding industry that name rings a bell! If not, she is the Editor and Chief of Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine and loves weddings.  Her new book "being in love never goes out of style" is a compilation of  more than 375 images to capture your imagination. 

Getting Married and need assistance?Email Me for current specials For All Your Event Planning Needs Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. Sharon Patrice, Owner Simple Perfect Peace Events, Inc.

Thirsty Thursday!!!

Usually when people speak of "Thirsty Thursday" they are making reference to a party at a club or hanging out with friends tossing a few back.  This particular "Thirsty Thursday" I'm concentrating on a workshop and live recording that I have the honor and privilege to be working on as the Planning and Coordination's Manager.

Shekinah Glory is celebrating 10 wonderful years in the ministry!  For those that haven't heard~ The Shekinah Glory Ministry is a praise and worship aggregation of Valley Kingdom Ministries International (www.vkmi.org), a non-denominational church in the suburbs of Chicago, IL, where Apostle H. Daniel Wilson serves as Senior Pastor.  This group of 21st century psalmists and minstrels operate under the anointing of Holy Spirit and has ministered with such renowned artists as Bishop T.D. Jakes, Donnie McClulrkin, Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ and Marvin Sapp . . . to name a few.

Shekinah Glory’s worship style incorporates a unique variety of ballads, contemporary, and prophetic selections. The ministry has traveled nationally and internationally, where local praise teams ultimately are being taught and are singing the songs of Shekinah Glory. During the 10 years, Shekinah has released three (3) CD's.  Its premiere recording,"Praise Is What I Do," was recorded live and released "in total" as a double CD in 2001. With their second CD, Shekinah Glory reminded us that we must lift Him "Higher" as an "Unquenchable Worshipper" and say "Yes" to the "Lord Like Never Before." (produced by Minister Rose Harper)

The most recent release, "JESUS," encourages us to "Stomp" on the devil's head so thatwe tell the LORD "You Are" everything as we go "Before the Throne" to call His Name "JESUS." (produced by SpoonFed Productions)

If you're feeling THIRSTY and need to quenching~ "Refreshed by Fire.....Ascending Higher" is available to you with a Workshop on this Friday May 14, 2010 and 4th Live Recording on Sunday May 16, 2010.  If you are interested in attending either of these wonderful events it MAY not be too late.  Check out their website HERE 

*above content made available via SGM facebook page. 

 ~Peaceful Planning
Getting Married and need assistance?Email Me for current specials For All Your Event Planning Needs Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. Sharon Patrice, Owner Simple Perfect Peace Events