Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

On this day of LOVE, remember there are many different types of Valentine’s and many different forms of Love!  We love our spouses (for those that are lucky enough to have found that special someone), our children (for those blessed with them), our parents, our siblings, our friends, our associates and more.  Count your blessings and be sure to let each of them know how much they are loved today…..and everyday!

Also, keep in mind, there are many people in this world who are not blessed with having a lot of family and friends to love.  A simple Happy Valentine’s Day wish from you could totally make their day special.  Or maybe just a simple smile to a stranger.

Share some LOVE all around today!!!  We wish each of you the happiest of Happy Day’s.

WeddingWire.com 2015 Couples’ Choice Award WINNER

Exceptional Events is pleased to announce we WON the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award 2015!!!  We are so happy our clients selected us for this special award.  We will continue to work hard to earn your trust and make each event exceptional.  Thank you for honoring us!

WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® recipients represent the top five percent of wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism.

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How to Give a Good Toast

If you are the maid of honor or best man I’m sure you are feeling the enormous pressure of giving a good toast! In the movies we always see these cringe-worthy toasts that make the audience squirm – we want to avoid this type of toast at all costs! According to Toastmasters International, a global organization devoted to communication development, here are the ten things you should pay attention to:

1. Identify yourself.  Let the audience know what your relation is to guests of honor.
2. Be prepared. Write out your thoughts to ensure that it flows together and practice!
3. Stay on topic. Although your nerves may be getting the best of you, remember to keep on track with your original written toast.
4. Get personal. A toast should be unique to the couple, heartfelt and customized for the big day.
5. Use humor, but avoid telling potentially embarrassing stories and using offensive language.
6. Be creative. Avoid clichés, consider using a sweet quote to illustrate your feelings.
7. Be brief. Brief is best, keep your speech under 2-3 minutes, any time over this and the audience stops paying attention.
8. Limit alcohol consumption. This toast will likely be recorded by the videographer and possibly a few attendees, best not to have slurred speech permanently captured.
9. Stand; lift your glass by the stem and say, “I’d like to propose a toast.” Pause to allow guests to shift their attention toward you and give them time to lift their glasses. When you start speaking, lower your glass to about waist height.
10. Practice makes perfect. Rehearse your message in advance in front of a group of friends and in front of the mirror, this can help get rid of extra “umms” and other crutch words as well as help your posture.

BONUS TIP:  Speak directly into the microphone, if one is provided.  People often hold the microphone too far away from their mouth and then guests won’t be able to hear you speak.

 

Here are some sweet quotes to help you get  started!

• “Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.” – Mark Twain
• “You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” – Dr. Seuss
• “Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.” – Unknown Author
• “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” – Audrey Hepburn
• “Love doesn’t make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” – Franklin P. Jones
• Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” – Maya Angelou
• “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” – Mignon McLaughlin

 

 

 

*Tips courtesy of Toastmasters International, with additions by Exceptional Events

Winner – The Knot “Best of Weddings 2015”

 

PRESS RELEASE

EXCEPTIONAL EVENTS NAMED WINNER IN

THE KNOT BEST OF WEDDINGS 2015

Dallas, TX/January 28, 2015—Exceptional Events is pleased to announce that they have been selected as a 2015 ­­winner in The Knot Best of Weddings, an award representing the highest-rated wedding professionals as reviewed by real couples, their families and wedding guests on The Knot. In 2015, only 2% of the 250,000 local wedding professionals listed on TheKnot.com have received this distinguished accolade.  The Knot Best of Weddings 2015 provides an annual by-couples, for-couples guide to the top wedding professionals across the country.

To determine the winners, The Knot assessed a sample of almost one million real reviews across the various vendor categories—venues, musicians, florists, photographers, caterers and more—that a bride or groom would want in order to inspire, plan and pull off their own unique wedding.

“Exceptional Events is honored that our clients selected us for this very prestigious award!  Our main goal is always to ensure our clients have the most memorable wedding day they can imagine and that each guest enjoys the celebrations.  We look forward to another year sharing our clients love and happiness!”

The Knot has helped inspire and plan more than 25 million weddings. With a rich history of providing quality content and inspiration to couples, The Knot is making it easier for couples to connect with just the right wedding professional to create a wedding that is unique to them. More than eight out of 10 couples come to The Knot, and they can be connected to any of 250,000 local wedding professionals across the country. The Knot is marrying great technology with trusted content — and a little love — to make planning for the most important day of a person’s life easier and more enjoyable.

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About XO Group Inc. XO Group Inc. (NYSE: XOXO; http://www.xogroupinc.com) is the premier consumer internet and media company devoted to weddings, pregnancy and everything in between, providing couples and new parents with the trusted information, products and advice they need to guide them through the most transformative events of their lives. Our family of premium brands began with the #1 wedding brand, The Knot, and has grown to include The Nest and The Bump. XO Group is recognized by the industry for innovation in media – from the web to mobile, magazines, books, and video. XO Group has grown its business to include online sponsorship and advertising, registry services, e-commerce and publishing. The company is publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange (XOXO) and is headquartered in New York City.

For more information, please contact weddingreviews@theknot.com.