Don't Use Overnight Prints www.overnightprints.com

Posted by Angie VanDaele in What were they thinking?

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I believe it's all our responsibilities to alert the masses about bad internet companies. I should have Googled the company! I ordered 4000 tradeshow postcards on May 18. I am a graphic designer so the cards were printable and I know Overnight Prints had no problem because I asked. They were printed Monday May 19, shipped May 20 supposedly. I paid for 3 day select and these won’t be delivered until sometime on the 27th. 9 DAYS!
After 3 hours on the phone, they refused to reprint the cards tonight and overnight them. I could pay to have them reprinted and overnighted and they would give me a 50% discount on the printing part only. Now that I read all the problems with Saturday delivery on the blogs, I know they were just blowing smoke up my skirt. (By the way, they may be a California company but they let slip that all the printing is done by another company in Louisville KY, UPS’s home and hub. They are simply middle men.) I talked to Elizabeth in Customer Service then her supervisor Michael. I believe that was his name.
I have used printers for 14 years and have never had such an unresponsive company. All he kept saying was that was not their policy and he couldn’t change the policy just for me. Stay away from them! Every company makes mistakes but the difference between a great company and a horrible one like Overnight Prints is how they handle the problem. And this company really blew it!

Best Event Décor - Tabletops and Celebrations in Paper

Posted by Angie VanDaele in

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One of my favorite categories in the ISES Competition is Best Event Decor and entrants this year did not disappoint. The Winner won with the following:

Dianna Samuels, Table Tops, Etc. & Rene Showalter, Celebrations in Paper for “Celebration of Life Birthday”

WED CHRON ADVERTISERS TAKE 6 AWARDS!

Posted by Angie VanDaele in

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THE SECOND ANNUAL ARIZONA EVENT INDUSTRY AWARDS were held last night at the Venue, Scottsdale. Sponsored by ISES -The Zonies are becoming the first industry recognition program from the industry itself. There were more corporate entries than wedding but still with 24 awards given, our advertisers won six of the best. They are as follows:

· Best Non-Proft Event, Budget Over $25,000: Karen Doan & Melissa Lewis, Karen Doan Events & Table Tops, Etc. for “Beach Ball South Beach Nights”

· Best Social Event, Budget Over $25,000: Victoria Canada, Victoria Canada Weddings & Events for “Modern Mediterranean”

· Best Use of Rental Equipment: Jack Weiner, Kool Party Rentals for “The Stuff that Dreams are Made of”

· Best Event Décor: Dianna Samuels & Rene Showalter, Table Tops, Etc. & Celebrations in Paper for “Celebration of Life Birthday”

· Best Event Photography/Videography: Stuart Thurlkill, Eyes 2 See Photography for “A Night in Old Havana”

· Best Multi-Day Event: Victoria Canada, Victoria Canada Weddings & Events for “Texas Panhandle, Arizona Style”

The rest of the awards were:

· Best Non-Profit Event, Budget Under $25,000: Camille Hill, Merestone for “Wine, Dinner & Song”

· Best Off Premise Catering: Michael’s Catering for “LEAP Associates”

· Best On Premise Catering: Judy Moline & Sean Kavanaugh, Centerplate for “GridIron Chef”

· Best Social Event, Budget Under $25,000: LoriAnn Harnish, Speaking of Meetings for “The Lady of the West”

· Best Corporate Event, Budget Under $25,000: Camille Hill, Merestone for “A Celebration of Gratitude and Grandeur”

· Best Corporate Event, Budget Over $25,000: Camille Hill, Merestone for “Fast Forward” We were robbed!

· Best Event Marketing Campaign: Camille Hill, Merestone for “The Journey Continues”

· Best Fair/Festival: Bob Sullivan, Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee for “Countdown to Kickoff…100 Days & Counting”

· Best Lighting/Technical Production: Camille Hill, Merestone for “The Journey Continues”

· Best Logistical Achievement: Camille Hill, Merestone for “Fast Forward”

· Entertainment Production: Camille Hill, Merestone for “Emerge”

· Lifetime Achievement Award: Bill Danner, Shadow Mountain Productions

Winners were chosen from 48 entries. Each entrant had to be a member of the event & hospitality industry in the state of Arizona (but not a member of ISES) and have an Arizona address and the event must have occurred within the state of Arizona between January 1-December 31, 2007.

New Term in Our Lexicon - Eco-Elegance!

Posted by Angie VanDaele in

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I just received a press release for a Eco-Elegance Wedding from British Columbia at The Rise. Bride Barb McKechnie and Groom Jeff Boschert planned a wedding using as many sustainable products as possible. It looks like a very pretty wedding. But a word of caution! Be careful of fads. A little background on me, I have a degree in not only Bio-Chemistry but also Environmental Biology from 30 years ago. I know, I know I am old, but with age comes some wisdom too. I have seen so many mistakes in the name of "The Environment" now called "Climate Change."

I was one of the first to think plastic bags were a bad idea in the grocery stores but we had to save the trees. We have now changed the term global warming into climate change because the earth actually cooled over the last few years. Scientists know that sunspot activity has more to do with the earth's temperature than anything man can do.

That doesn't mean the whole movement is a sham. We should be building and buying sustainable products. But a bamboo plate and fork in a plastic trash bag still fills up a landfill. So tread carefully. If you are buying recyclable products, make sure they are recycled. Send your extra food from your wedding to the local food bank or mission. Take the flowers to nursing homes (make sure you don't need to return the vase to the florist first). Instead of favors, make a charitable donation to a cause you believe in. And follow through. Make sure your wishes are going to be carried out. That's the true mission of environmental stewardship. Do what you can and see that it is done right. We can all make a difference, the smart way.

The BEST Bridesmaid Gifts Ever!

Posted by Angie VanDaele in

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Every bride planning a wedding faces this dilemma: What do I give my bridesmaids to thank them for all their help? A bride wants to find a lovely gift that will last, has meaning, is great fashion, and will remind her friends of the great year they spent planning her wedding. On the other hand, she many not want to spend a huge amount of money. There is a business that is the answer to this dilemma. Charity Charms fills the bill on all counts PLUS puts money in the pockets of various charities around the metropolitan area. (Now some National Charities are coming on board!)
Charity Charms brings awareness and provides a funding source for more than forty charities. Founded by Kay McDonald in 2004, Charity Charms is the wonderful result of diligence and passion. After 20 years in the jewelry business, Kay decided to develop an innovative concept which incorporated her background and fed her philanthropic desire.
Charity Charms are created from a charity’s logo, and when worn, allow the wearer to show their passion and permit them to talk about the charities near and dear to their heart. The charms come beautifully wrapped in small oval hatboxes accompanied with information about the charity. When worn the charm spreads the word about your favorite charity.
Seventy-five percent of the purchase price of the charity logo charms is donated back to the charity. The silver charms are crafted out of heavy sterling in Arizona. Charms, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, cuff links, pins and pendants are some of the wonderful choices available from the web site.
I have also noticed that weddings seem to come in bunches. Brides and their friends all get married at once. These weddings include the same people…wouldn’t it be nice for each bride to select her charity and by the end of the wedding rush, each girl would have a beautiful charm bracelet. Don’t forget, Charity Charms has grooms’ gifts too.
Create your own unique piece that signifies passion for a cause.
Find Charity Charms at www.CharityCharms.com