August marks the six month anniversary of The Smart Planner, so we are getting the party started with some UnBirthday fun! We have some great giveaways coming up over the course of this month, not the least of which is today's!
There are some days when you just have to buckle down and get through your to-do list, and one of the best ways to do that is by listening to music that energizes you and sets you in a productive mood. So for our first giveaway, we are gifting one lucky winner with a (PRODUCT) RED iPod Shuffle! Just load it with your favorite music, and it creates the play list for you, leaving you free to tackle your list and get stuff done.
Here are the official details:
*This giveaway is open to any professional working in the wedding or event industry, not just wedding planners. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite thing about weddings.
*You must include your website with your comment! Since this giveaway is only open to wedding and event professionals, this is how we will verify that you do in fact work in this industry. Comments without a website will not be considered.
*You have until this Friday, August 8th at 11:59 pm to enter. The winner will be chosen randomly and will be announced on Sunday, August 10th.
*Limit one entry per person, but more than one employee per company may enter.
Have fun and good luck!
Welcome to 
56 comments:
Liene -- this is incredibly generous of you! How fun! Believe it or not I don't even have an iPod but I would totally love one since my new 'ride is "iPod enabled".
Congrats to whomever wins!
Hi Liene,
I love the research that goes into creating a design concept for a client, the delight in the bride and groom's faces and just the fun of being part of the couple's special day. I don't have an ipod as well. Would love one. Take care!
Adizat
www.klassy-kreations.com
Wow, that is so awesome of you! Let's see, my favorite thing about weddings... I would have to say how completely personal and special they can be. I love when a couple really, really gets into the planning process and makes everything have personal details.
Kelli
www.socialbutterflyevents.net
Ooooh fun! And Ipod! I don't have one either!
My favorite thing about weddings, I love the feeling I get at the end of the event when a bride comes up to me and gives me a hug with tears in her eyes thanking me for making her wedding dreams come true!
Happy Unbirthday!!
Melissa
www.masterpieceweddings.net
I don't have an iPod either, although I've purchased one or two for my son.
My favorite thing about weddings?
That feeling I get on the drive home when I'm exhausted and I know I'm doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing.
www.thebeginningbride.net
My favorite thing about weddings is when the bride and groom are doing their final exit and they turn around to find you and tell you: "Everything was perfect!"
Awwwwww. . .
because we know it really wasn't. . .
Candice, don't feel bad. I don't own an iPOD either (gasp). But, you never know, it may come in handy for a wedding. Girls, it's definitely not a bad item to have for your emergency kit. You just never know what might happen. Good blessings to those who enter.
Happy Unbirthday!
My favorite thing about weddings is that no matter how many I do I always get emotional seeing the groom's reaction as his bride walks down the aisle.
Kristyn
Panache Productions
www.panacheconsulting.com
I love the moment the groom looks at his beautiful bride as she walks down the aisle. The look on his face makes any stuggles and challenges during the planning COMPLETELY worth it!
My favorite thing about weddings is the way the couple chooses to personalize it. Having unique gestures to family heritage, or symbolic references to things they love to do, or how they met makes the day that much more special. Guests really then get a glimpse into who they are and how they got to where they are.
Thanks for letting us share our thoughts and happy Unbirthday!
Jonnaysa Kirkham
www.plannedperfectionpa.com
Having come from the film industry, I wondered if I would ever find a second career that would leave me with the sense of accomplishment that I had when I completed production of a film project. Working on weddings is even more gratifying because in addition to continually being inspired by the amazing artists that work in our field (as was also the case in my previous career), having the satisfaction of successfully orchestrating the event, I am always touched by the love story behind it all. It is rewarding to provide an experience that will be treasured throughout their lives.
Forgot to add what my favorite part of the wedding..The First Dance..Esp when they are nice and slow..The couple slips into their own world for a few secords and it seems as if there is no one else in the entire room.. I love it!!
I love the idea of keeping it in your emergency kit! My favorite part of weddings are all the amazing details and gorgeous colors. That's why I love this biz!
www.amynichols.com
Liene -
Congratulations on your 6 month anniversary! Your blog has become a great resource and tool for strengthening my business skills. I've learned a great deal from you.
Thank you so much!
Samantha Darr
soireebliss!
www.soireebliss.com
Overall, for me the wedding day is the grand finale when all the components, planning, players and vendors come together to make magical moments which hopefully will last a lifetime.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment and happy un-birthday!
www.feteperfection.com
Great contest idea!
My favorite part of the wedding day is the very end, when family (especially those who maybe didn't buy completely into the whole wedding planner idea at first) hug me and tell me that the best decision they made was to hire me because I've made their special person's biggest day. It's rewarding and refreshing - and a little bit like becoming part of the family too.
www.williamsburgweddingdesign.com
Oh yay!! My favorite thing about weddings is capturing the Groom's first look as he sees his Bride for the first time. This look full of so many emotions and cannot be duplicated by any other means!! Believe me I've tried. And weather I am photographing or attending the wedding, his first look moment just moves me to tears each and every time.
Happy UnBirthday!!! Keep up all the good advice!!
All of it... most of all when a family member or friend comes up to me during the wedding and says, "Finally! I get to meet you", the compliments from them and compliments things the bride, groom and family have share with thm. I appreciate hearing from someone else that we have executed the design and the plan the bride and groom wanted.
marion
AbsolutelyBlooming!
Dallas
Liene,
What a wonderful giveaway and I too do not have an iPod, this will save me a lot trouble from carrying the old school boom box and CDs (a little large for the emergency kit, but I leave it in the truck just in case disaster strikes).
Anyway, what I love about weddings, I just love the feeling of personal accomplishment when everything works out as planned and even if it doesn't, that a solution was found and the B & G were none the wiser. Those big bear hugs and happy, tearful eyes are what make it all worthwhile!!!
Happy UnBirthday, this blog is such a wonderful resource, thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise.
Warmest Regards,
Sherri Lucero
www.lovetoplan.com
Great contest and happy "UNBIRTHDAY".
My favorite part of the wedding is the moment right before the bride walks down the aisle.
The Nervous Nellies and Frat Boy Hi-Jinx that were present at the rehearsal have now turned into Bridesmaids, Groomsmen and Ushers.
The relief and joy is apparent on the brides face; this is HER day. All of the little melt-downs, hissy fits and worries are gone and it is HER day. She's the queen and when I see her look at her Dad or Groom for the first time, that LOOK makes me thrilled to be a part and makes me anxious for the next wedding
Wow, what a great giveaway, Liene! You've had some really great responses so far. My favorite part of a wedding? Being able to witness love for a living. It can't be beat.
My favorite part:
The toast - when it's a really good one. They're rare but a good toast shows you what the bride and groom are really about.
I also really heart a good hora and when the band plays "September" - as they always do!
www.elizabethbaileyweddings.com
Thanks Liene!
My favorite part of every wedding is that last moment right before I send the bride down the aisle to get married. It is usually just her and her dad and it is always emotional. If you look closely you can her as his little girl. All those rides on the swings, the first day of school, the first crushes, teaching her to drive and realizing that he is about to let her go. It gives me chills and makes me teary just thinking about it!
Happy Unbirthday L!
Emilie
www.emilieduncan.com
Yay! What a fun treat, Liene! Happy unbirthday Smart Planner!
Melissa took my favorite thing about weddings from the planning perspective {big surprise}. But my favorite thing about weddings in general is the incredible commitment that they symbolize: the beginning of a marriage union.
Monica
www.whiteboxwedding.com
I'm SO excited! Is it okay to hope I win???!!! My favorite thing about a wedding is the infusion of personality. I love weddings that people walk away from and say, "That was SO her.' That's when I know I've done my job right :)
I like the people watching and observing the relationships I like to envision what hte couples new life will be like and I enjoy knowing I am apart of that for them.
Awesome contest!!
My favorite thing being there for the coming together of two families, and being able to document all of that emotion is a gift from God for me.
Wow, a birthday where you GIVE away gifts - it really is an unbirthday!! Thanks, Liene, and mnhoya litta (that means literally ' a thousand years' in Ukrainian).
My favourite thing about a wedding - when it's over and I can crack open a cold beer?
No seriously, I love that I can tell people my business is...love. Making someone's dream of a day a reality (I know, it's cliched but it's so true). When they tell me it's more than they ever imagined, I'm on Cloud 9.
I figure I must have been REALLY good in a past life since in this one, I'm living in beautiful Costa Rica and planning destination weddings at the beach. What on Earth could be better than this - chilled couples (mostly) having an extended holiday with friends and family and then marrying against magical backdrop? Cannot be beat.
Thanks and keep up the great work!
I love my job the most at the end of the wedding, when the bride and groom genuinely thank me for my work, and also when the parents tell me how much they enjoyed the wedding. If the bride and groom and their parents are fully relaxed and enjoying every moment of the night, I know I've done my job right.
www.chillweddings.com
Happy birthday, Smart Planner!
The Father and Daughter Dance is my favorite. Gotta love those intimate moments.
My favorite part is chatting with photographers before, sometimes during, and after the ceremony. We catch up on things and then I get to watch them do their magic. I love wedding photography!!
Carolyn in St. Louis
My favorite thing about weddings is working with the brides. I love hearing their stories about love, life and wedding planning. (Oh, and I love making hand tied bouquets!)
Happy UnBirthday!
Janet
www.floralverde.com
Happy Unbirthday! I agree one of my favorite things about a wedding is when the groom sees the bride for the first time For me though, the thing that makes me feel priviledged to do the job I do are those little moments between the bride and her parents. It's the hugs, the smiles and/or the tears of appreciation & adoration when they don't realize anyone is watching. When I capture those moments I love weddings the most.
My favorite thing about weddings is working with someone who has planned the biggest event of their lives and allows me to share and record, close up, the sheer beauty of it (I'm a wedding photographer).
My favorite part is waiting in the back of the church with the bride before she walks down the aisle...there is always so much anticipation and excitement on her face.
www.memorableeventsbymichelle.com
This is great - thanks.
I love talking to a client about their ideas then helping to find the right professionals to make it happen then on the wedding day the MOB or the bride says it is exactly what she wanted and or she couldn't have done it with out me.
www.elegantengagements.com
It's so hard to choose just one thing I love about weddings--but definitely one of the most personally fulfilling is when the family, the bride and the groom, bridal party, etc., thank me for a job well done, and tell me it was just what they wanted---that's when I remember how lucky I am to do what I love!
My favorite thing isnt about the decorations or caterer, its about the love that the couple has for each other. Its so beautiful to watch and be a small part of.
My partner and I have been in business together for 6 months this month too! August 7th is our official date. We each had separate businesses prior to us combining our strengths.
www.cetraseventplanning.com
I thought I was the only person on earth without an iPod!
But my favorite thing about weddings is the first dance between bride and groom. It's really the first time that they get to be together, face-to-face, as husband and wife.
Thanks for this blog and this great giveaway! You rock!
www.sjbweddingsandevents.com
Happy UnBirthday! I have an "unbirthday" at least 4 times a year :)
My favorite part of a wedding is actually the very first time that the bride and groom walk into the reception. The looks on their faces are priceless (as long as it is what they wanted! I haven't had a mad bride yet...) When they see what they have invisioned for the past several months come to life, a satisfied feeling rushes across me. Girls start planning their BIG DAY early in life and I love being able to make their design dreams come true!
I do have to add that I love the father-daughter dance too. I just think back on how every little girl (including me) wanted to marry thier dad. Both me and my sisters all had a "wedding ceremony" in the backyard with all of our teddy bears and cabbage patch dolls as our guests. Now, several years later, that little girl that once was in "love" with her daddy is now sharing a dance with the man who just gave her away. *Sniff Sniff*
Goodness, I love my job!
www.allureeventconsulting.com
Happy 6 months, Liene!
The best part of the day is when the couple is saying their vows to one another. Sometimes everyone gets so wrapped up in the linens, cake and favors, they forget why everyone is gathered together in the first place.
Aletha VanderMaas
http://www.pearlsevents.com
Very fun and congrats on this milestone. One of the best parts of the day is the groom's face when the bride walks down - always makes me tear up. And my favorite part of the whole wedding - when clients make it fun and personal with a small theme throughout.
Laura Hit
www.noteworthydesigns.ca
Happy Happy Unbirthday!!
My favorite thing about weddings is the cake. I may be five years old at heart, but I LOVE cake... and cupcakes, pound cake, strawberry shortcake, pumpkin pie cake (a family thing) and pretty much every other kind of cake. A few weeks ago we did a wedding where every layer of the wedding cake was a different kind of cake... it was AWESOME!!
www.goodtasteevents.com
(I am the newest member of the Good Taste Weddings & Events team!!)
Hmmm… my favorite part of wedding planning, well I’d be lying if I didn’t say that sometimes it is cashing the check, or maybe getting off my feet after a very long day, or maybe the long discussion afterwards about what went right and what if anything didn’t that I have with my team. Nothing is quite as good as that pat on the back, even if you are giving it to yourself. Ok, that was my politically incorrect answer. For the correct answer, I would have to say, that moment, when the bride and her girls are still tucked away and happily getting ready, the groomsmen are off getting pictures taken and no guests has yet arrive. I am left alone to survey the room, which has come together in all the glory that the bride and I have been planning for weeks. The cake is delivered and sitting perfectly upon its stand, the flowers are gorgeous and all the details, down to the smallest ones are in place. It’s a great feeling to see a dream come true.
Felicidades Liene!!!!
I just LOOVE what I do so it’s a bit hard to say what is my favorite thing about weddings :) Being a part of such a memorable occasion and seeing the bride, the groom, their families and friends absolutely happy is priceless. At the end of the night I am walking on the clouds (and exhausted too!)
Adriana with La Boda
www.labodaevents.com
So fun!
I think my favorite aspect is seeing everything come together on that day. Especially with the clients that I have been with through the whole planning process, it is so incredible to see their joy as their ideas and plans come to life.
Courtney (www.joyfulweddingsandevents.com
My favorite part of the wedding is when I fluff the train and sit back to watch the most important part. Right before I don't sit again for 8 hours. I love watching the bride walk down the aisle!
Thanks for your blog, and Happy Unbirthday!
Catherine Katz
www.cherishedcelebrations.com
Thank you Liene for The Smart Planner! I think my favorite part of a wedding is the look on the groom's face when he first sees his bride. After all of the hustle, bustle, and chaos, it's that one beautiful moment that makes it all worth it.
-Stacey Taylor
www.ktbweddingsandevents.com
My favorite part is seeing the couple glance at each other after the ceremony and they both just "know". I love that moment. They know that all is well and nothing else matters but the love they have for one another.
~Lara
www.blisseventgroup.com
My favorite part it the "Cupid Shuffle" without a doubt!
http://www.brandyj.com
Cheers
Happy un-Birthday Liene!
Wow great contest, there are so many great moments of the day. Let's see...my favorite part of the wedding has to be the moment when I take the couple to get a sneak peak of the reception setup and they can see their vision turned into a reality. It also gives them a special time to themselves for at least 5 to 10 minutes before the reception starts.
What a great contest! What I really love about weddings is getting to see the excitement and the happiness exhibited by the bride, groom, their family and friends particularly during the rehearsal dinner and the wedding.
Holly
Zuriana's Elegant Occasions
www.zurianasoccasions.com
What a fabulous contest, Liene! I love reading everyone's responses.
My favorite moment is seeing the couple right after the ceremony recessional. Whether they hold each other and get emotional or jump up and down and scream "we did it!" - it's always an amazing moment that only a few of us get to witness.
Without a doubt, my favorite moment comes as the Bride stands at the top of the aisle on her fathers arm and looks at her groom for before she walks to him. The sheer happiness on their faces, and the peace I feel at having played a small part in that moment is to me, priceless.
Lori Lamb
Love U Mean It
Peoria, AZ
L.U.M.I@cox.net
That magic moment when everything finally shuts down and they all go...happy, tipsy, smiling...but most of all, gone.
HA! Just kidding, but it's a great feeling afterwards when the whole event goes off without a hitch.
Nick Bazin
1511 shadowood parkway
atlanta, ga 30339
http://www.itsyourdayevents.org/
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