Irish Wedding Traditions - The Blessing

I absolutely love this time of year! March 1st comes around and not only do we know that spring is just around the corner, but it means Irish season has officially begun! My family has always been very proud of our Irish history all year round, but during March we get to celebrate the culture and traditions with the rest of the world. If you take a couple of minutes to look around, you'll see Irish bands, parades, and fundraisers all around for the next few weeks.

For the past few years I've wanted to take the opportunity to share some Irish Wedding Traditions that I've come across over the years. Each year March has come and gone and I've not gathered my Irish thoughts together to share. But this is the year! All thru March I'll post some of my favorite traditions, sayings, and customs that relate to weddings in Ireland.

I thought it would be fitting to start March off with sharing a traditional Irish Wedding Blessing. I hope you enjoy the Irish Wedding traditions, Slainte!

Carrie and Brad

Carrie and Brad

July 10, 2010

I've been lucky enough to be helping couples get married for over 6 years now, but this summer I had the opportunity to see things from the other side...as a bridesmaid! I had such a great time working with one of my best friends that I've known since elementary school, and it really was an honor to stand up with her on her wedding day!

We were blessed with absolutely gorgeous weather, and an amazing venue and vendors that made my experience as a bridesmaid wedding planner as stress free as I hope to do for my clients. Here's a sample of some of the beautiful pictures, but see more on the Purple Clover Facebook Page!

Church: Holy Name, Birmingham, MI

Venue: Oakland Hills Country Club

Photographer: J.S. Photography

Videography: Tri-Foot Productions

DJ: Mike Staff Productions

Flowers: Nature's Touch

Linens: Chair Covers & Linens

The Importance of vendor reviews and WeddingWire Bride's Choice Award!

I'm very happy to announce that Purple Clover Events has again been awarded with the 2011 WeddingWire Bride's Choice Award!



The awards are determined by recent reviews and surveys from past clients and vendors thru the WeddingWire website, which is the largest wedding review website in the nation. Recipients have been determined to be among the top 5% of wedding professionals, and I'm honored to be part of that!

That being said, I also want to stress the importance of giving honest reviews and feedback to of your vendors thru avenues such as WeddingWire.com. Not only does it helps us to be recognized with awards like this, but it allows us to view our services thru our clients eyes. It gives us the opportunity to improve our services, and make additions as needed. Reviews from past clients also allow future brides to get real feedback on a vendors performance that will help them know if they might be a good fit for their wedding. As you think back to your planning process, vendor reviews were most likely a huge part of your decision in who to hire. Once your event is over it's your turn to share the love with future brides and tell them all about your experience!

You can find our WeddingWire Storefront here, and please make sure to search for and review your other vendors too!!

Sandals Royal Bahamian

I don't think I'm saying anything new here, but Sandals resorts are AMAZING!! Most of us had to shovel our way out of our homes this morning, and I am very much wishing that I was back in the Bahamas! Of course the weather plays a major role in that, but there is so much more to what Sandals brings to a vacation than just the destination. They tag themselves as providing a "Luxury-Included Vacation", and I can tell you that's not just a sales pitch. Now that I've experienced two Sandals resorts, I'd like to share a couple of lessons I've learned and highlights from the trips. To see more pictures from my fabulous trips to Sandal Whitehouse and Sandals Royal Bahamaian check out the Purple Clover Events Facebook page! To get more information about how to book your vacation email me at Kate@PurpleClover.net.

A few things I've learned from my trips to Sandals:

1. Each resort really does have its own personality. The size, set-up, and location of the resort help to play a role in that, and it's important to know what you want out of your vacation. Some want nothing more than to kick back and read on the beach, others want to experience the cultural sites outside of the resort, and then there are those that want to pack in all the water sports and SCUBA diving they can. Some ambitious vacationers want to fit it all in! Knowing what kind of vacation you are looking for will help your Sandals representatives pick the perfect resort for you.
2. Sandals makes a HUGE investment in customer service training for their staff, and it really shows. In previous jobs I've helped to develop customer service training programs for staff, and I know first-hand how difficult it is to implement a successful program on all employee levels. I spoke to several of the staff members there about this and it was very clear that everyone understands the importance of this. There are many resorts in the Caribbean that offer all-inclusive packages with the same beautiful ocean view and turquoise water. One of the key ingredients to making Sandals a Luxury-Included brand is the dedication to their customer service program.
3. Always request an Oceanfront room! My first trip was to Sandals Whitehouse, where all of the rooms have an Oceanfront view. Absolutely breathtaking! The layout of Sandals Royal Bahamian, and many of the other Sandals resorts, don't allow for that benefit. While my room at RB was gorgeous, it did lack that stunning view, and let's face it, that's what you go to the Caribbean for! I would definitely recommend spending a bit more to ensure that you're morning coffee comes with a side of spectacular! (Wow...that was cheesy!)
   

Royal Bahamian

A week from today I will be leaving my winter boots and this Michigan weather behind and traveling to the beautiful Nassau Bahamas to spend a few days at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort. Anyone who has stepped outside on a day like today would be more than excited for the climate change, and I am no exception! Honestly, the Sandals Luxury Included Vacations would be amazing regardless of Mother Nature. I've never been so impressed by an organizations focus on customer service, and I look forward to sharing the details about my trip and what Sandals has to offer!

Photos of Sandals Royal Bahamian

Sandal Jamaica

In May I was lucky enough to head down to Whitehouse Jamaica to check out their Sandals Resort. Sandals works closely with the Association of Bridal Consultants, and welcome ABC members a couple of times a year to become familiar with their services and locations. I've heard many good things about the company and the gorgeous weddings that take place there. I have to say that it is completely different to experience it in person!

I'll be heading to Sandals Royal Bahamian in a couple of weeks, and the timing couldn't be better! Escaping Michigan in January is always a good thing :) I can't wait to report back on another beautiful location, but most importantly a wonderful customer service experience. The Sandals staff really understand the importance of treating their guests as just that, and they do a phenomenal job at it. Check out our Facebook Page to see more pictures!

Valentines Day Wedding

I wanted to share these wonderful ideas for a Romantic Valentines themed wedding!


Valentines Day Wedding