Join us on Wednesday, November 2nd at the Delta Fredericton where Anna Post, modern etiquette expert from The Emily Post Institute will answer questions followed by a book signing of the new release – Emily Post’s Etiquette 18th Edition – Manners for a New World

For more information click here…

If you take anything away from this article – be true to yourself and your significant other when planning.

Oh, and just because a photographer told me that all post should have eye candy here it is:

Here is one of myself and Steve on the Red Carpet walk for charity

Photo by Katelyn Rose Photography

 I also managed to get a video of the night (well a few) but here is one that is super great!

Enjoy!

PHoto by Katelyn Rose Photography

Wow! What a night.

I got to be part of this years Red Tie Affair all in support of AIDS NB. The event was super glam with the comdey host Steve Patterson and the music stylings of Pretty in Pink (That 80′s Band) later in the evening. The food was absoultely delish – cudos to Chef Brent Conlin. The decor was a joijnt effort from BarbaraLee Designs, C Jayne Events (that’s me), the Crowne Plaza and AIDS NB. The evening sported a ‘red carpet walk’ to which I’m looking forward to seeing some of the professional photos from Katelyn Rose who graciously donated her time and skill to the event. Photos from the wall were purchased for $10 and Steve also posed with us and the crowd to up the celeb factor. John MacDermid also donated his time and skill to capture photos from the event preformances.

The comedy was so funny and hopefully I was able to capture a small clip just to tease you…..you may need to pop over to my Facebook page to see it.

The MCs (Bob Cann & Joelle Worral – Fred FM) helped the evening along with their professionalism and the silent auction items which were donated to the cause were a huge success!

Just when the guests thought the night couldn’t get better – it did. We had a great time listening to Steve Patterson preform with Pretty in Pink a Phil Collins song. – Funny and he can sing! But don’t get to excited ladies as he is getting married

So much fun and I hope you will be able to join us next year. If you attended this year let me know what you thought; if you weren’t able to attend this year I’d like to hear from you as well.

Cheers!

It’s that time of year again in which if you have waited – gowns are now on sale!!

The Wedding Chapel in Oromocto, NB is currently holding their ‘end of season’ clearance sale. Check out the flyer and a few photos below and then head out to see Caryle & Kim to find your dream gown. Sale runs until Saturday!

Just check out this dress she sent me for the new stock that is coming in – help her make room ladies!!

I think this photo was take by Pam Tomen @ Great Takes Photography granted I’ve had to compress it so that it would upload for me….

CSJ Events is now accepting registration for the first ever U-Plan Wedding Series! The first class starts on November 3, 2010 and is going to bring the excitement of wedding planning to a whole new level. I’m raising the bar! As a certified wedding planner, my customized full planning wedding service costs upwards of $3000 – this class is a steal that any savvy bride will recognize!

ready to sign up? contact us today, let us know “I’m a weddingista”

Not only do I give you regular access to myself but I’m going to be bringing in other experts in their field to talk to you. There will be lists and handouts and advice coming at you like you’ve never experienced.  Now, I hear you; you can get regular advice from your friends – those who’ve not been married and have no idea what you are going through OR those who’ve been married but want to do it differently or want your’s to be the same since theirs was ‘perfect’.  You can get advice from your family – yes, from mom whose idea of an elegant reception is mini-lights and tulle hung over plastic table cloths at the local bingo hall. Do these people ‘hear’ you, ‘understand’ your vision? We both know they want the best for you but sometimes you want the stars!  Well, what makes this a fantastic deal is that I have already been married and had a blast. I’m not going to be doing it again. I can help you with all my experience and resources to give you the best planning experience out there. I won’t think your idea is ‘silly’, I won’t make you feel ‘less of a bride’, I’m going to help you plan your way to the fabulous day you have dreamed about.

I’ll treat your wedding as 1 of a kind. Yes, a wedding can be the same as someone elses but not if you infuse your personality into it. No couple is the same – neither should your wedding!

Bring your troubles and worries about planning to me and I’ll help you figure it all out. I’ve a vivid imagination but yet I’m still firmly grounded in reality so I can best advise you of what is practical – with no bias!

ready to sign up? contact us today, let us know “I’m a weddingista”

I’m going to go through wedding planning with you step-by-step. I’m going to answer your questions candidly & honestly. I LOVE weddings and I want you to LOVE planning your wedding! Everyone needs help from time to time and I do offer that service with consulting. My consulting rates are $150 for the first hour and then $50 for each hour after.

This series is going to be the talk of the town! I will work with you over the course of 7 classes from now until your wedding – WOW! – that is an incredible savings!! Let’s break it down – consulting would cost you at minimum for this much access $450! Is this still too much to invest to ensure the day you’ve envisioned becomes a reality? If you answered “yes” then keep on reading!

The U-Plan Wedding Series is being offered to you amazing savvy brides for the lowest ever cost of only $300!!! To make it even easier I’m going to give you payment options!!! That’s right you pay in 3 equal payments! Now because of this payment plan I do need to add a service fee (I know! – it’s so wrong but sadly the world we live in) of 3%. This makes 3 equal payments of $103! Recommend a friend and get an additional discount or rebate on your registration.

sign up - contact us today, let us know “I’m a weddingista”

Still not convinced? Click “U-Plan” on the menu for more information. I look forward to helping U Plan your dream day!

Cheers!

The conversation went further and the end result was that I was told I needed choo-choo shoes! LOL! <silent wish is coming true?? is my 2 year old granting me permission to spend $500+ on shoes??>

Who wouldn’t love a pair of Choo Shoes – aka Jimmy Choo!?! (are shoes on the list of ‘anniversary’ gifts?) Below are some photos for inspiration, starting of course with the most popular Jimmy Choo Shoe – Clue (say that 3 times fast)

Would you be as faithful to your Choo shoes as Carrie Bradshaw was? I think that SATC changed the way we women think and feel about shoes – let’s face it – weather expensive or not, a great shoe can change your day!

Would you spend the money to get a pair of these shoes for your wedding, a special event, the perfect black dress?

Well, it’s Friday afterall, so here is some more Choo shoe foot candy – enjoy!

photo credits:

www.shoeblog.com, www.thepinkyfeather.com, www.handbags800.com, www.thedressingroomdiva.com, www.therecessionista.blogspot.com

I started to brainstorm and decided to hire a planner (aka me) to ‘produce’ and ‘run’ the event – I’m sure that since we are so tight I’ll get a good deal! I was originally thinking BBQ as the nice weather kept lasting and then decided that it should be for those ladies who are busy and that getting specific time in which to relax is rare, be it due to work, family or life in general. With this in my head an idea was formed for a ‘quintessential’ party; this then rolled into a theme of – girly, flirty and fun! The guest list was prepared – inviting a few ladies from my different circles (ensuring some overlap) who would rise to the dress occasion. Next step was to let them know…

What screams party more than a special invitation?? With the help of Sarah & Eric down at Sarah’s Sweet Delights we came up with an invitation design which was printed on metallic pink card stock. Envelopes were hand caligraphered (sp?) by myself using white ink (surprisingly easy to find) and then wax sealed on the back with my initial and hand delivered to the guests. cost: $11.30 invitations, $1.49 for the pen, had wax and seal.

The next thing to think about was food and beverages; you all know my stance that a party can be defined by those 2 elements alone and both are a key ingredients to making your guests feel special. The menu was decided upon:

• sweet & sour meatballs served with wedges of pineapple (3 dozen)
• red pepper and parmesan chicken skewers (2 dozen)
• cajun scallops with a mimosa sauce (2 dozen)
• cucumber slices (2 dozen)
• basil pesto tomato & mozzarella bites (2 dozen)
• bruchetta (2 dozen)

Food cost: $39.95 for ingredients, time to prepare & cook – priceless but around 2 hours including prep.

Now, as the host, I also wanted to enjoy the party so how to do that and still make the party happen on schedule to the vision I had?? Right – I hired an event planner who takes care of such logistical things! Which brings me to the prepping of plates and serving of food to guests….hence, photo of young man hired to serve at party. cost: $40.

Beverages were provided by myself as is custom for an exceptional host: 2 bottles of wine (home-made and already had), blackberry beer, lime beer, watermelon cocktails, non-alcoholic punch – I do have friends who don’t drink well – they are pregnant! Beer was put out as self-serve in my nifty little bucket with ice and the wine was red so I decanted it early. cost: $41.53

Equally important is decor or ‘atmosphere’ which was achieved by borrowing lanterns for outside from my friend Lee over at BarbaraLee Designs, moving furniture around, loads of pillar candles I already had just sitting in the closet from IKEA set into glass cylinders which I also had. But my deck needed more…. I could envision what I wanted it to be – an oasis, relaxing & calming – but how to achieve it. Oh, yes! I hired an event planner – I need to ask her for budget friendly ideas…..

I have to say, she is so creative (LOL!) because she came up with an idea to transform the deck area so that even my husband didn’t think it was our back yard. A little bit of time and a pair of tree pruners was all it took to make this reality. Sumac (I think that it the proper name) grows everywhere here like a weed, branches were clipped and then secured to stakes pushed in the ground around the deck. That right guests - those were not real trees around my deck offering privacy! Okay the one in the basket is a ‘real’ plant.

I moved my banana leaf bench outside along with the teak chairs. Then I used furniture from the house to create this look – the end table from downstairs, the wicker storage unit that secretly holds Tristan’s blocks, the room divider from the bathroom and the upholstered cubes. I put serving trays on the surface to ad layers and piled in the candles. Time to create this look – 1 hour.

Ladies left the party with the cutest little swag bag (adorable bags of b&w damask with hot pink) with a few little things. Not all were the same but included items like: candle tins, bra strap clips, lip balm, flashlight/bottle opener/key chain and moisturizer. cost: $30

DIY Total cost of party: $124.27 (doesn’t include the server)

Total cost with CSJ Events: $274.27 ($150 for a 3 hour party)

Disclaimer: the party didn’t actually happen as planned - it rained, but this would have been what it looked like. Luckily, with a planner we had a back-up plan and due to the weather, the party was held inside on the screen porch – the room divider did not make an appearance.