"SUZETTE SPEAKS"
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The love of your life got down on one knee...wrote a message in the sky...put a ring in your drink...asked you casually over breakfast to marry him and you said, “YES!” Congratulations! Now what? I’d like to share a few things for you to consider as you determine your next steps to marital bliss. 1. Stay True to What You Want The well-meaning people in your life are beyond excited and each of them has something to say about what you should do. They have thoughts on when and where you should have your wedding. Who should be in your bridal party and who should not. Where you should get your dress(es) and what your color scheme should be. They have it all figured out. But remember, this is your day. This is your wedding season and what you do and have should be what you desire. Are you listening to me? I want to stand in solidarity with you as you say no to blush pink and yes to Pantone’s Color of the Year – Living Coral! If you don’t want 20 people in your bridal problem, then there won’t be 20 people in your bridal party. If you want food trucks at your reception, then food trucks it is! Whatever you and your groom desires, comes before what everyone else thinks. 2. Don’t Compare Yourself to Other Brides This kind of loops into the first point but deserves its own emphasis because you need to remember this. It’s very easy to get caught up in the Pinterest pictures and the exciting calls of others you know who are planning a wedding at the same time you are. Don’t. Get. Caught. Up. In. Doing. What. They. Are. Doing. You want your guests to confirm that what you’re wearing is your style and compliments you. You want them to see your personality in the décor and activities. When you look at your wedding pictures and video, you want to see the wedding that you always wanted and not a copy of what someone else did for theirs. 3. Think of Ways to Manage the Stress You can plan pampering sessions at your favorite spa. Spend some time doing yoga. Take afternoon naps. Do whatever relaxes you because wedding planning is stressful, and you need help remaining calm. I’d also like to suggest not going it alone. While you are well able to do it yourself, you don’t want people coming to you on the dance floor at your wedding reception to tell you that the top layer of your cake is sliding off in the scorching heat of your outdoor wedding. Let someone else handle that. I planned my entire wedding when I got married, but I put together a team of people to handle every aspect of the wedding for the “day of.” So, at minimum, think about hiring a “Day of Coordinator” who will serve as your point person on your wedding day. If your plate is full and the thought of planning a wedding takes you over the edge, hire a Wedding Planner – it will save your life and decrease the number of gray hairs on your head. A full-service Wedding Planner can handle all the details and find EVERYTHING you need for your wedding so that you feel catered to and cared for. Being engaged and planning for marriage well be one of the best times of your life and you should enjoy it. I want you to ask yourself along the way if you’re enjoying what you’re doing. If you’re not, give me a call.
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The official start of Spring is calendared to begin March 20, 2018, but Spring has already sprung on my social media pages and in text messages on my phone. New life has begun in many places.
The children of my friends have received acceptance letters from top colleges and universities across this nation. Dreams are coming true and what looked like impossible odds are now options for consideration. Babies created this past fall and winter are preparing to enter the world in the coming months and grandmas – excuse me – “Glam-mas” can’t wait for these bundles of joy to come forth so they can spoil them like they didn’t do their own kids. Lol. Invitations for graduations from pre-school through grad school are being disseminated and family members are choosing outfits and flights. Spring (new life) is already here and I’m excited because it’s a glorious time to #CELEBRATELIFE! When I made the decision to convert my passion into a business, I asked myself “Why now?” The response was that at this point in life, I’ve learned some meaningful lessons that will serve me well and one lesson is that life is short. Our TVs, tablets and phones are flooded with stressful and upsetting news. We spend much of our time doing, going and serving others, but very little of it CELEBRATING life. So, Envisioned Events by Suzette, LLC was born. Not to just join the ranks of businesses, but to serve as an invitation –- a reminder -- that we should take the time to #CELEBRATELIFE. No matter how big or small the celebration and no matter how much money we have to spend . . . take the time to CELEBRATE the accomplishments and milestones in our own lives and the lives of others. I had a conversation with a girlfriend of mine this morning because she texted me the names of the additional colleges her son was accepted to (I wish I could tell you but not yet). I told her that we had to CELEBRATE and she told me why her son probably wouldn’t want to have a party. I said to her that this would not be just a party. It would be a CELEBRATION of the legacy of education and success in our communities and families that others try to negate and erase. THIS would be a celebration of the accomplishments of a young, African American man who worked hard, sacrificed, survived the streets of this concrete jungle and the ills of racism . . . to gain access to an opportunity that wrapped with the love, support and prayers of his family and community . . . will propel him to SPRING FORWARD! It’s a new year and many are determined to make this their best year yet! Resolutions have been set and success accomplishing those goals is on the horizon. With success comes the call to "Celebrate!!!" But not all celebrations are created equal. As you think about the occasions you’d like to celebrate, I want to share a couple of things that will have your event “Trending” in 2018. Incorporating any or all of these ideas, could make your event one of the most talked about celebrations in in your circle. Unique Venues will get your guests excited upon receipt of the invite. People love to try new places and they especially love to try them with those they know. So, for your next event, wedding or meeting, consider a non-traditional space. How cool would it be to announce your engagement in a space with illuminated marble countertops and cascading waterfalls? What about celebrating your birthday in a space that provides 10 eateries, each offering different cuisines for your guests' unique palates? Can you imagine having an intimate wedding ceremony on a beach in New York? Yes, New York. The venue possibilities are endless. Next is Guest Engagement. How much you indulge your guests' sense of sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing can be the difference between a celebration that was "nice" and one that was deemed "LIT!" We can create an experience that involves more than just standing around with a beer and a handful of nuts. Guest Engagement can include some virtual and artificial intelligence experiences that transport your friends to places anywhere in the world. They can get on adventure rides, walk the runway at NY Fashion Week and dance dance on stage with your favorite performer. Your guests can also create something that they leave with and use in their every day lives. This seals the memory of your celebration in their hearts and minds. There are so many ways we can help to create exceptional experiences. Finally, who better to engage your guests than the Local Flavor in your city or town? Utilizing the products and services of your local businesses allows you to support your community and build relationships with you "neighbors." A local florist can teach your guests how to make floral arrangements that they get to take home as a gift from you. The wine vineyard in your town could customize and create the wines for your engagement party or wedding. Imagine a wine on the shelf of your local winery named after you. We could also have your yoga instructor come in to teach your guests the latest techniques to de-stress after an intense week of work. Woosah! These are just a few things that can have your event, wedding, shower, private dinner party, graduation party and retreat "trending" this year. The customization and personalization of your event is the key to making your guests feel special and excited about attending your celebration. It doesn’t matter how small or large your event is. What matters is how you made your guests feel when they celebrated with you. Get your party “Trending" with Envisioned Events by Suzette today! “CELEBRATE LIFE” PROMOTION:
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