A Little Thank You Goes A Long Way

A few days ago, I was on one of my new favorite wedding websites, Bridal Tweet, and there was a post in the discussion forum titled "What Caused You to Become a Business Owner". I knew the answer to that question immediately. My response " I have known for a long time that I was destined to be an entrepreneur, I just wasn't sure what I would be doing or how I would do it. When I planned my first event years ago, I knew instantly it was my calling. It was something that I absolutely loved and would do even if I was not getting paid for it".

So while I was going through my email archive, I came across a letter from my very first clients. After reading these letters again (several months later), I still felt all tingly inside. Wedding/event planning is a business that is very self-fulfilling. Just knowing that what you do brings joy and happiness is a feeling like no other. I absolutely LOVE the field I've chosen, and I am a true believer that if you don't love it, you shouldn't be doing it!

Check out the kind words from Platinum Touch Events very first client, Patrick & Rebecca:

Dear Nikola,

"We wanted to thank you and your staff at Platinum Events for all your help to make our wedding day run without a hitch. From the first meeting till the end of the wedding night, Rebecca and I knew that you had everything under control - even the last-second things that we needed. A few of the things we found very useful with your service is how you have a bilingual person on your staff that was able to help with a vendor that needed a translator. The speed that you to return emails and phone calls was very prompt. Also we knew we could trust you and your staff to complete the last minute preparations at our location and distribute out the needed funds to the vendors as needed. We liked the level of anticipation you showed at critical junctures during post-ceremony functions to keep things moving along in a timely manner, and ensure that we were able to maximize our time with the videographer and photographer. Other things that make your service great is your passion to be on the same page as other vendors, sitting in on our vendor meeting, getting family and wedding party people in their proper places, and coming up with great ideas on the fly. We also both loved that you were the last to leave the event and not looking at the “clock” like some vendors can do. But the best for us is that you keep your cool even when things are going crazy as they can with a wedding, that was a huge relief on our nerves and helped with what was already a very stressful day. I know that you are a huge reason the wedding and reception went off without a hitch. For that we thank you for all you did and help us start our new life as husband and wife. We will recommend Platinum Touch Events to anybody that needs an event or a wedding planned because you do a great job at easing the stress that goes with planning a wedding".

Sincerely,
Patrick Elmendorf

I would like to personally extend a thank you to Patrick and Rebecca for having enough faith in me to put the most inportant day of the rest of their lives in my hands. I'm sure other entrepreneurs can attest that when you are first starting out, the hardest part of your new venture is getting people to believe in your dream. Without Patrick & Rebecca giving me that first shot, there would be no Platinum Touch Events. So to you, I say a big THANK YOU!!!

I'll post pics and more details about their wedding soon!

Giveaway: $50 SpaFinder Gift Card

Planning a wedding or special event can be STRESSFUL! With that being said, Platinum Touch Events is unveiling our first ever giveaway: a $50 SpaFinder Gift Card. Here is your chance to indulge and pamper yourself with a soothing body wrap, a hydrating facial, a relaxing hot stone massage, etc. With a spa finder gift card, you can log on to their website (http://www.spafinder.com/), and choose from hundreds of Day Spas nationwide. As an added bonus, they are currently running a Deal Days promotion. During the week of March 8-14, you can sign up for exclusive access to $50 spa treatments, meaning NO MONEY OUT OF YOUR POCKET!!!

All you have to do to be the lucky winner is become a follower of the Platinum Touch Events blog (click the "Follow" button located on the right). Simple, right? Of course it is! We take pride in making things smooth and stress free for our clients, so we wanted to do the same thing for our readers too!

Want to double your chances? Become a fan on the Platinum Touch Events Facebook Fan Page too http://www.facebook.com/pages/Platinum-Touch-Events/166546727983?ref=ts and you'll be entered TWICE.

The deadline for the contest is Thursday, March 4 th, 2010. Your name will be entered into the random drawing once if you become a follower of the blog, once if you become a fan on Facebook, or twice if you do both. The winner will be notified on Friday March 5th, 2010. Spread the word and good luck to all!!!

Note: Platinum Touch Events is in no way affiliated with SpaFinder. We are not liable for the outcome of any of the services attained via spafinder.com or their affiliates.

E! Entertainment Television Casting Brides For New Wedding Show

I received this email in my inbox today, and thought I'd pass the info along. So, to all the brides out there that ever thought of being on a wedding reality show, this one's for you (*wink*):

Attention Brides-To-Be

E! Entertainment Television is Casting Brides-To-Be for HOUSE OF BRIDES.

Are you preparing for your wedding but you won't walk down the aisle until you LOOK perfect??? There's a solution. HOUSE OF BRIDES, a new competition reality show for E! Entertainment Television, is casting engaged women who want to go through a total image transformation before the big day.

The winner will not only look great, but will also win her dream wedding with the help of Hollywood's top wedding professionals. Her and her wedding will be given the full celebrity treatment!

If you are a bride-to-be who is willing to compete with other ambitious engaged women for the wedding of your dreams then HOUSE OF BRIDES is the show for you.

Casting Directors will be at the following
Bridal Show accepting applications!
Knott's Resort Hotel, Buena Park
11:00am - 4:00pm

RSVP to: http://us.mc453.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bridalshowplace2@yahoo.com

Put Your Signature On It

One way you can add a personal touch to your wedding is by creating and/or serving a signature drink. A great way to tie in a signature drink is by choosing one that matches your wedding's color scheme/theme and creating a fun and delicious name to reflect the couple's personal style. A bonus tip for couples looking to save money on the drink tab: rather than splurge on the full open bar package, choose instead to serve only beer, wine, champagne, and a signature drink.

Check out a few yummy recipe's that I came across...

Belvedere Sparkle

Ingredients:

1 oz Belvedere Vodka

2 oz cranberry juice with ice

1 oz Moet & Chandon Champagne

Directions:

Shake vodka and cranberry juice with ice. Strain into chilled martini glass and top with champagne. Garnish with raspberries.

The Tinsel Bellini

Ingredients:

2 oz HPNOTIQ
1 oz Limoncello

1 oz Champagne

Splash of lime juice

Directions:

Rim the champagne flute with a light coat of sugar. Pour chilled HPNOTIQ, Limoncello, and Champagne into the champagne flute. Add a splash of lime juice.

The Mad Bellini

Ingredients:

Peach juice

Peach schnapps

Veuve Cliquot Rose

The Cointreau Teese

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Cointreau

3/4 oz apple juice

1/2 oz Monin violet syrup

1/2 oz fresh lemon juice

Passion Fruit Punch

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ounce(s) Smirnoff Passion Fruit Flavored Vodka
1 splash(es) cranberry juice
1 splash(es) pineapple juice
1 splash(es) grapefruit juice
2 dash(es) bitters
1 splash(es) lemon-lime soda
1 piece(s) pineapple
1 piece(s) orange
1 piece(s) cherry

Directions:
Build first 5 ingredients in a collins glass over ice.
Top with lemon-lime soda.
Garnish with pineapple wedge, an orange slice, and a cherry.

Pomegranate Martini

Ingredients:

1 ounce(s) Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka
1/2 ounce(s) Grand Marnier
1 splash(es) pomegranate juice
1 splash tonic water
1 twist lemon

Directions:
Combine ingredients in shaker with ice.
Shake, strain, and serve in a martini glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist.

All photos and recipes courtesy of www.delish.com

How Would You Like to Rent The Runway?

photo courtesy of www.thenest.com

Wouldn't you love for the fabulous ladies in your bridal party to rock the sexy and stylish designs as some of today's hottest A-list movie stars? Of course you would, and Rent the Runway can help you do just that! Rent the Runway is a fashion website that allows you to rent high-end designer gowns without having to invest in a dress that may never leave the closet again. For one night, your leading ladies will be able to shine like some of hollywood's biggest starlets, without breaking the bank...and your pictures will look like a spread straight out of Vogue magazine!

Love. Wear. Return. It doesn't get any better than that!

Aaliya & Alexis' Strawberry Shortcake B-Day Party

On Jan. 30, I had the pleasure of hosting a Strawberry Shortcake themed birthday party for my wonderful twin daughters, Aaliya & Alexis. I had originally decided on a Candyland theme for their second birthday. The invitations were ordered...the candy was paid for...then a sudden and unfortunate passing of a family member took me away from party planning duties for awhile. So because I was in a time crunch, and still debating whether or not the party should still happen despite the somber mood surrounding my family, I decided that the show must go on...even if it meant switiching up the theme at the last minute (unfortunately Candyland party supplies cannot be found at your local party store and I ran out of time to complete all the cute DIY projects I had in mind, womp!)

All in all, the party was a success. The twins had a ball playing in the jumper, the kids enjoyed putting together the gingerbread houses, and I sent everyone home with a sugar rush! Check out the pics...

I was so excited for my lil mamas to turn the BIG 2!!!

A party is just not a party without a bounce house!

They turn 2 and all of a sudden they can hang with the big kids, lol

Alexis was hanging out...

So was big sis Aaliya

My girls LOOOVE each other. Almost makes me wish I had a sister....ALMOST!

The kids had fun making the gingerbread house (remember, it was originally a Candyland theme...couldn't let those go to waste)

I was so proud of the candy buffet...it came out great!!!

Seeing all the old-school candy made me feel like a kid again

This is the look of two pooped out 2-year olds after a fabulous party!!!

Designer Gown Sale

I couldn't live up to the motto "Platinum Weddings on a Silver Budget" without mentioning this steal of a deal: How would you like to score an amazing wedding gown for a HUGE fraction of the cost? Well, now you can! Bridal Showplace 2010 presents the Designer Gown Sale. Did I mention that all designer gowns are only...wait for it...$179!!!! Choose from Demetrios, Maggie Sottero, Jasmine, Forever Yours, Private Label by G, Lady Roi, Belsoie, B2, Mon Cheri & more!

photo courtesy of www.demetriosbride.com

Photo couretesy of www.foreverbridals.com

Mark Your Calendars...this is a sale you won't want to miss!!!

Designer Gown Sale at
Bridal Showplace 2010
Sunday, February 21
Knott's Berry Farm Resort Hotel
7675 Crescent Ave., Buena Park 11:00am - 4:00pm
Free Parking
Designer Gown Sale
featuring top designers at below
wholesale prices for the entire
Bridal Party.
All Designer Bridal Gowns $179
Bridesmaids & Special Occasion Dresses $59
Flower Girl Dresses $39
CASH ONLY

Don't wait in long lines
RSVP Now: http://us.mc453.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bridalshowplace@ymail.com

Note: the gowns pictured above are a representation of the featured designers and are in no way promised to be a part of the gown sale.