Back To The Old Grindstone (sort of)

I will be returning to the office on a part-time basis starting November 27th. I want to thank my two incredible associates, Robilyn Heath & Jacqueline Johnson - for taking such good care of my clients while I was out on leave!!

Just so you know, I'm only going to be in the office 2-3 days per week (I still am recovering from that surgery thing!) so there's still a good chance you'll get your emails or phone calls returned by either Robilyn or Jacqui. I hope to be at "full blast" come January 1st!!!!!

However - it's good to be back, I've missed ALL OF YOU!!!! :)

Now Accepting Applications!

Interested in learning the "insider's view" when it comes to the business of being a professional wedding planner? We are now accepting internship applications for the 2008 wedding season.
If you are interested in the opportunity to be a part of the Premiere Event Management team, please download the application found at The WeddingDIVA.com. All applications must be completed and returned by December 31, 2007 in order to be considered for the 2008 wedding season.

Good luck!

Turkey Day

Thanksgiving signals the beginning of the holiday season for many of us. And just because I'm a wedding/event planner - that doesn't leave me out of the fray when it comes to pulling together a simply marvelous celebration for my family and friends!! My crew expects for me to create the "divine" dinner - replete with linen, china, crystal and of course, amazing food! I guess it doesn't hurt in the fact that I LOVE TO ENTERTAIN, so coming up with the best Turkey Day dinner is always up my alley :)

This year will be a tad different, however. My beloved grandmother was diagnosed with multiple myeloma earlier this fall and as such is going through extensive therapy and rehabilatation at a local facility. So....we are taking Thanksgiving to her! She is the anchor and core of our family..and this is the first holiday that we can't all gather at my house to celebrate.

The facility she's at is beautiful AND they have a lovely formal dining room which patients can "reserve" for private functions. The moment I saw it on our tour - I knew I had to have it!

Since this will be a portable feast - I am diligently working on my portion of the menu, trying to make it movable, delicious and fit for the folks who'll be partaking of it. So..on my list is:

Maple Roasted Turkey

Redskin Mashed Potatoes garnished with herbs and creamy (real) butter

Sourdough Stuffing infused with sage sausage and walnuts

Homemade Gravy (made with turkey drippings and cracked peppercorns)

Gourmet Cornbread Circles (my award winning recipe)

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Refreshing Cranberry Iced Tea

My sister (who lives in North Carolina) will be providing the other half of the meal. Now that I am in the recouparative stage, it's interesting for me to get around in the kitchen and manage the culinary aspect of things. But hey, I am definitely a trooper - and Thanksgiving dinner is one of the things I so enjoy doing!

Even though we are taking the dinner to my grandmom - I'm still infusing that DIVA style into the room. I've got great linens on tap (from my private stash), some really cool centerpieces and functional servingware that will help me dish out the goodies! This year's color palette will be a warm cinnamon and gold - perfect for the fall leaf palette we've got going on in the Baltimore area.

I always love to hear what other's are doing for Thanksgiving - so please share! Whether it's a great menu, a family tradition....tell me what you've got going on!!! I'll look forward to some great reading - and I'm sure my blog visitors will appreciate your contributions too :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

I'm Putting On A Shindig!!

and I hope many of you will want to attend!! Since 1998, I have produced an annual wedding/bridal show for the Baltimore area. And so far - so good, as y'all have turned out in DROVES to see what's new, hip, trendy, exciting and simply fabulous for all things nuptial. And for that - I thank you!!

Because of my uber-hectic schedule this year, I didn't throw my "party"...but all of that is changing in 2008!!! So....I'm putting the word out on the street in advance, the DIVA is planning the sleekest, sexiest, WOW wedding event you've ever laid eyes on. "Soiree" is the name and bringing you the very best in nuptial happenings is truly the focus of this game!!!

Be forewarned - this is so not your typical bridal show!!!. I'm a different kinda chick anyway..so I will make sure that you are entertained, have the opportunity to feast your eyes and all 5 senses on things that are simply gorgeous, eat delicious food, drink great "concoctions", meet only the BEST wedding providers in the area AND walk away with salient, useful information that will help you and your beloved plan the most amazing wedding ever! And to top it all off - each attendee will get a "goody bag" - full of treasures I know you'll love!

And yes - I will be in the house, meeting and greeting all of you - as well as taking questions from the audience. No query is too "out there", too "complex", too "crazy" - I guarantee that I will give you the answer, straight up - no chaser!!!

Stay tuned for more details!!!!!!

So - do you wanna be on television???

I have so many people contact me about possibly having their special wedding events filmed for Style Network's hit reality series "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" - it appears that there are many of you who would love to have the unique opportunity of seeing your "I Do's" on the tube!

Well - your golden chance may be right around the corner. The network will be starting filming for the 7th season of the show - and are looking for amazing couples, willing to share their nuptials with the rest of the world!! Weddings occuring between November 2007 and the end of February 2008 are ripe for the picking, so if you're interested - let me know!

DIVA's Disclaimer: There are no financial renumerations for appearing on the show. And while I love to have my clients showcased on the series, I have no decision making authority when it comes to who makes the cut - and who doesn't......

Guess Who?

I just wanted to "pop" my head in and let you know how things are going! My knee replacement surgery went well, thanks to Dr. Thomas Whitten and his excellent team @ Mercy Medical Center. I am at home, recouperating..slowly but surely. It's kinda funny - because I thought I'd be up and running around....not so. It takes time for 26 sutures to heal, for swelling to subside and for pain to dissapate.

I have started physical therapy and all I can say is "wow". No one told me that the pain would be enough to make my eyes cross ALL OF THE TIME!! But - I am a "troopette", so no pain -no gain. I used to think my pain tolerance was pretty darn good - until I had this surgery. I mean, shucks - I had two babies..so I thought nothing could outdo that level of pain. Au contraire - knee surgery will knock you on your behind!!!!

I am walking with a cane now - albeit slowly. Don't worry - I'll be back up to a reasonable amount of speed soon enough. It's my plan to be back in the office at "full tilt" after the holidays :)

I really and truly want to thank all of you for the kind words, many prayers, sweet thoughts, lovely cards and gorgeous flowers that have been sent my way. It did my heart good!!!
Thanks for thinking of this Diva......I appreciate it more than you'll ever know!!!!!!