2009, What a Year!!

As we count down the last few hours left of 2009, I can't help but reflect on what an amazing year 2009 has been for us!! We have had a great joy of working with so many wonderful clients. Each and every event was so fun and so UNIQUE!! You have given us the opportunity to do what we best and we thank God everyday for this blessing.

Here is a recap of some of our favorite highlights of 2009.

We're so excited to see what 2010 has in store for us!

Images courtesy of Abe's Photography, Limelight Photography, CMS Photography, Medley of Memories Photography, A Fly on the Wall Photography, & Ashlynn Dumelle Photography.

Fabulous Find - "The Truth about iPod Weddings"

I came across this great article on the American Disc Jockey Association website and I had to share!

"The Truth about iPod Weddings - What you need to know BEFORE you choose an ipod for your event.


As is often the case in society, some things or ideas become trendy with little thought to practical implementation. A few years ago, it was the idea of a "sponsored wedding" that somehow everyone would want to donate their services to you in the hopes of getting business from others. Sounds like a good idea, but never really took off because all the vendors realized that a sponsored wedding only generated more requests for sponsored weddings, not more business for them. So people that overspent on some items counting on the reception being paid for by others soon were in trouble as their budget was gone and they were still missing major parts of their event program.

Today, the trendy topic is DIY receptions by using an ipod and a rented sound system instead of a professional wedding entertainer, the DJ. This idea is fraught with peril, because a great event is more than simply gear and music. It is the talent that a qualified professional brings to the event that matters most. It is what allows for a smooth flow to the event, with no embarrassing surprises. A Professional DJ from the ADJA provides you with confidence that your event will flow smoothly and will be an event that you, your family and guests will never forget, instead of one they would like to.

In order to show you, the consumer the effects of using an ipod, we decided to let video tell the story. What you are about to see is real. It is video from an actual wedding where they chose to use an ipod. The video is untouched other than to insert some dialogue slides from time to time. We hope that by it you will clearly see what happens when you gamble your event success on an ipod. There are both Quicktime & Windows formats."

The video can be found at -
http://www.adja.org/general/ipodwedding.asp

I truly hope this article and video relays the importance of hiring a professional DJ for your event. You are paying for their personality, expertise, professional equipment...the list goes on and on. This is your wedding day, you have ONE chance to get it right!

Be UNIQUE!!

Staci M.

Article and video courtesy of the American Disc Jockey Association - http://www.adja.org/.

Back to the Grind!!

We are back and refreshed after a wonderful few days off! We celebrated the holidays with family and friends, and even found time to organize the office! We are back to the grind, busy closing out 2009 and working on a number of upcoming weddings and events! We are even booking into 2011!

We'll be around through New Year's, so feel free to call or e-mail us. We are actually gearing up for our first wedding of 2010 this weekend!

There are LOTS of great blogs to come, so stay tuned!

Make 2010 UNIQUE!!

Image courtesy of http://www.athina.co.uk/.

Merry Christmas!

Unique Event Design will be on vacation from Thursday, December 24th - Monday, December 28th. We will be back in the office, answering any e-mails and phone calls, in the order they were received, on Tuesday, December 29th. We wish you and your's a relaxing and blessed holiday!

Image courtesy of http://www.christmas-light-source.com/.

Playing "Catch Up"

WOW!! We really need to play "Blog Catch Up!" We have so many great things to share with you! It's been a total whirlwind the last few weeks (months, even)!!

So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride, while we fill you in!! :)

We'll start with the winner of our "UNIQUE Date Night" Contest, that we did in honor of our one year anniversary!

Nicole R. from Orlando, FL was our winner! Here is her entry:

"My fiance and I love to keep things simple and cheap as we are saving for our wedding, and we are very committed to having a date night at least once a week! We frequently visit Barnes & Noble for a cheap date night. We are able to look at new books and magazines without committing to buying them. He likes to look at travel and money magazines, while I like to look at the latest gossip and get ideas in bridal magazines! We also purchase a Starbucks coffee drink to share. Just being together, regardless of how much money is spent is what matters the most to us!"

Her idea was not only creative, but economical! Her focus on the time she is spending with her fiance, rather than the amount of money spent, is so heartwarming to hear. Unique Event Design is going to treat Nicole and her fiance to their next date night out, with a Barnes n' Noble giftcard! Hopefully with this, Nicole and her fiance can enjoy two cups of coffee, and bring a book home with them.

Congrats Nicole!

Vendor Feature: Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa

Unique Event Design was graciously invited to do a Hard Hat Tour at the new Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa. This is one AMAZING hotel! The luxuries, amenities, and especially the view, are out of this world! The lobby features a grand staircase to the second level where all of the action will take place. The event spaces and a fine dining restaurant are all on the second level. There is 12,000 square feet of indoor event space, including the 4,000 square foot ballroom. The color scheme of the event spaces is neutral, with tones of brown, beige, and green. The lighting, which consists of chandeliers and sconces, is simple, yet elegant. A modern lobby bar is also on the second level, perfect for an after party or even a pre-party before your event! One of the true jewels of the resort is the pool area, located on the 8th floor, which will feature 20 private air-conditioned cabanas, seating, and a Bar & Grill. Each of the 250 spacious suites have full kitchens, and some even have oversized balconies. You are surrounded by water, with views overlooking either the Gulf of Mexico, the Intercoastal Waterway, or both! In addition to the indoor event space, there is also 20,000 square feet of private outdoor event space. The most impressive of these areas, is the 4,400 square foot Roof Top Terrace, which captures views of both bodies of water, and allows your guests to party under the stars. The resort also features a 24-Hour StayFit gym and a full service spa.















We were truly blown away, and you will be too! The Hyatt is set to open in January 2010, pending any construction delays. If you are looking for a modern, elegant, luxurious space for your event, you should DEFINITELY check out the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa!

A special "thank you" to Jennifer Payne, the Catering Sales Manager, who was kind enough to invite us to a "sneak peek!"

For more information:
Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa
301 South Gulfview Blvd
Clearwater, Florida 33767
Tel: 727 373 1234
Fax: 727 441 3672

Fabulous Finds: Couture Cupcake Wrappers

There are accessories for every aspect of your wedding, even your dessert table! Bella Cupcake Couture creates posh, elegant, and stylish cupcake wrappers. The array of designs that they offer are reminiscent of those found on textiles. The designs are printed with soy inks onto recycled paper, so you know you are being good to our planet too. They even offer clear boxes to create cupcake favors. The directions for the wrappers are super easy, they just attach to the already prepared cupcakes and, voila! Couture Cupcakes!

All images courtesy of http://bellacupcakecouture.com/.

To learn more, check out Bella Cupcake Couture!

Your Last Chance!!

It's your last chance to send in your entry for our "Unique Date Night" Contest!

In honor of Unique Event Design's 1st Birthday, we are giving YOU a gift! Send in your best idea for a "Unique Date Night," to info@uniqueeventdesign.com. We want the most innovative and fun idea you've got, for a night out, or even in! It can be with the girls or time with your significant other! Anyone is eligible - clients, vendors, friends, fans, etc.

We've already got some great entries! Send your entry in ASAP! We are accepting them until midnight tonight, Eastern Standard time. The winner will be declared and awarded THEIR Unique Date Night, courtesy of Unique Event Design. It's just our way of saying, thank you for an amazing year!

Thanks again and good luck!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We will be unavailable by phone or e-mail from Wednesday, November 25 through Monday, November 30, in celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will return all correspondence in the order it was received, on Tuesday, December 1. In the meantime, please check out our website www.uniqueeventdesign.com!

Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless!

Image courtesy of http://disconap.blogspot.com/

Seeking Interns!!

We are still accepting resumes for an internship with the UED team! Do you have what it takes?We are seeking an Assistant Coordinator to assist with day-to-day business activities, including, but not limited to: phone calls, e-mails, consult preparation, organizing client folders, research, assisting with design compilation, as well as client meetings and errands. Some of this work may be done on a "virtual" basis, via phone and e-mail. In addition to these day-to-day activities, this individual will also be assisting on events, including: setup, design execution, and strike at the end of the event. Also, you may be asked to assist with the rehearsal coordination. This internship will work around your work and/or school schedule, but you must be able to work weekends (including Friday). This internship opportunity will be hard work, but the hands-on experience will be invaluable!

The only qualifications for this position is an interest in wedding and event planning, good communication skills, and the ability to think quick on your feet! We'd prefer if you are getting some kind of school credit for this internship, but it is not required.

If you are interested in interning with us, please e-mail your resume to staci@uniqueeventdesign.com. No calls, please.

Happy Birthday to Me!!

The energy around the office this week is amazing! Not only are we working on some fantastic weddings, but Tuesday was my birthday! The celebration has been going on since Saturday! I'm so happy to have so many wonderful family members, friends, and yes, even clients! I've even received numerous birthday wishes from our clients, something like..."Happy birthday! Now get back to work!" :)

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for such an amazing last year! I don't have a single complaint! I consider myself extremely blessed for the life that I have!

I shared my, '27th Year Dose of Wisdom' on Facebook and it received a great response of all of my "FB" friends, so I also wanted to share it with you, in hopes that it will also inspire you:

"Life is too short, eat pizza off your china! Drink champagne everyday, there's always something to toast to! Give your time to those that love you, they are the ones that will always be there! Bad things will always happen, but you have a choice, how you respond to ...them. Learn and grow! And finally, God is an essential part of your life, let him guide you!"

Here's to another fabulous year! Thank you again and God bless!

A Weekly Dose of Inspiration

We're so sorry for missing last week's dose of inspiration! We've got a very interesting one this week, that I hope, more than makes up for it! I admit, this week's dose of inspiration is an unusual one. You can blame hanging around the Don Cesar during a late night wedding for this one. While walking past the aquariums in the lobby area, the amazing sealife began to trigger my inspiration. I began to think of one of my favorite of the marine life, the leafy sea dragon.

Yes, he is a little odd looking, but there is so much beauty in the flowing lines of his body. Even the way that he moves through the water is extremely graceful. The colors present are different shades of white, ivory, and cream. I also can't help but wonder at the contrast of the blue water against the light colors of the dragon's body.


We built our color scheme on the same shades present on the body of the leafy sea dragon. A combination of whites, ivories, and creams create a clean, modern look. Small accents of royal blue are present, but the most intriguing would be the blue uplighting that will surround the guests, giving the illusion of being beneath the sea! We found the perfect gown that reflects the thin lines of the body and the leafy texture of the sea dragon. All the ruffles create the perfect flow to replicate the graceful way it moves through the ocean. We continue the ruffley look with the cake design, by utilizing ruffles on every other tier. As for the flowers, the visual texture of hydrangea and phalaenopsis orchids, as well as piles of rose petals, will do the trick perfectly! For the ceremony, we would want to keep it simple, no flowers, only some flowing sheer fabric and the beautiful blue sky!


A Modern, Marine Life Inspired Wedding by uniqueeventdesign

We hope that we've inspired you to find inspiration ANYWHERE! Check back next week to be inspired again!!

Images courtesy of http://www.myinterestingfiles.com/ and http://www.polyvore.com/

A Rave from the Newlyweds!

We received this overwhelming Rave from Sabrina and Rustie, who were recently married at the Don Vicente Inn in Ybor City.


"I cannot say enough good things about Staci with Unique Event Design. I hired her for day of coordination only, however she went above and beyond that! My wedding day would not have been the same without her. She took care of everything that day, all I had to do was show up. I told Staci my vision throughout the planning process and she made it come to life on the big day! I've received numerous compliments on how beautiful our wedding was and I can truly say Staci contributed volumes to that. I basically handed her boxes of decorations and said "Have at it!" I was so impressed with everything that day, it was exactly what I wanted :) She is friendly, funny, prompt and very reliable! If you haven't hired her yet you are missing out."

Sabrina & Rustie, thank you for allowing us to be a part of your wedding. It was a true pleasure! Best wishes for love, health, and happiness!

This is just a teaser, more details and photos of their event, to come!

Image courtesy of www.jasonangelini.com.

Exotic Invites

We are so delighted that the invitations for one of our December clients, Ari & Allan, were featured on the Not from a Box Blog!



Ari and Allan wanted the perfect invitation to set the tone for their dramatic December event, but were not prepared to spend an arm and a leg. Not from a Box answered their needs by combining beauty and price! With the inspiration for their color scheme being pulled from a peacock feather, the invitation had to have drama and elegance. Their invitations featured an antique gold pocket accented with specialty paper from Thailand. The decision to use the beautiful paper was a decision from the groom, at the eleventh hour! We are so glad he did push for it! It truly made the invitation UNIQUE!! The monogram created by Not from a Box will also be featured at the wedding in a few distinct places. Keep an eye out for the pictures from this amazing event!

To learn more about Not from a Box:

Not from a Box, Inc.
3941 5th Ave. N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33713
727-388-8399
http://www.notfromabox.com/

A special 'thank you' to Amy Willoughby for blogging about our client! And the shout out!

Images courtesy of http://www.notfromabox.com/.

Pure Heaven!

A little something to get your blood flowing this morning from the most famous Event Designers in the world.

Who needs coffee when you've got this...

Images courtesy of www.mindyweiss.com, www.prestonbailey.com, & www.davidtutera.com,

Happy Birthday to US and A Gift for YOU!!

It's been a whirlwind of year! Unique Event Design is celebrating one year in business! One year of amazing events. One year of the sweetest clients. One year of the craziness that I LOVE! Thank you to everyone of our clients that made this last year possible. We truly could not have done it without you.

Since we have been creating unique ideas and easing your stress for a whole year, we want to continue doing so with a birthday gift for YOU! We are having a contest for the most UNIQUE ideas for a date night! We want you to e-mail us your most unique and innovative ideas for a date night, either at home or out on the town, with your boyfriend, fiance, husband, heck...even a great friend. We want to know your most innovative ideas to kick back and relax! Please keep it clean, people! :)

E-mail your ideas to info@uniqueeventdesign.com, by Sunday, November 29th at midnight. We will review all of the entries and declare a winner on Monday, November 30th. The winner of the contest will receive their unique date night out, courtesy of Unique Event Design!

Anyone is eligible - clients, vendors, friends, etc. So, get to brainstorming and send us your most UNIQUE ideas!!

Good luck and thank you again, for an unbelievable year!

God Bless,

Staci Mandikas

Image courtesy of http://www.tinkeringchef.com/.

Weekly Dose of Inspiration!

This week's 'Weekly Dose of Inspiration' is soooooo pretty! We are being inspired by china! We were asked to design a table for a Christmas Tea Party at our church. We are utilizing the Mikasa Parchment china in the design and used it for the inspiration!

The Mikasa Parchment china design is white, with a frosted pearl-gray design with a scrollwork pattern, and a platinum rim. The overall look of this china is simple and traditional, but also is timeless and modern. We were inspired by the simple elegance of this china and were asked to incorporate Christmas into our design as well.
Knowing that the typical red and green Christmas look was not going to work, we opted for a modern 'Winter Wonderland' theme with a blue, white, clear, and silver color scheme. The stark look of white branches will be contrasted with the elegance of white roses, carnations, and orchids. Crystals and clear rock candy will be incorporated to translate the look of ice. Details of feather and fur will offer warmth to our design, and only minor touches of snowflakes will be present. The traditional overtone of the china is interpreted in the fashion aspect with mostly closed heels and pearls. Our Christmas Tea Party tablescape will be beautiful, welcoming, and extremely textured.


Winter Elegance and Grace by uniqueeventdesign on Polyvore.com

Be sure to check back next week, and if you have an idea for a future edition of 'Weekly Dose of Inspiration,' please e-mail us at info@uniqueeventdesign.com.

Images courtesy of http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/ and http://www.polyvore.com/.

Cans for Comments - LAST REMINDER!!

This is the official LAST reminder to take part in our Cans for Comments program! We will be counting comments until midnight on (Yikes!) Halloween, October 31. Please keep those comments coming! For each comment made on any blog post, we will donate one can in your honor to Tampa Metropolitan Ministries. Our current count is, 50 comments = 50 cans! Our goal is 78, doubling our Cans for Comments results from earlier this year.

So, please continue to comment, comment, comment, and help others! Thank you!!!!

Image courtesy of http://www.wishspecialevents.com/.

A Weekly Dose of Inspiration!

My apologies for the late weekly dose of inspiration. Were you having withdrawals? :) I must admit that we 'borrowed' our inspiration from one of our favorite TV shows, Project Runway, by choosing a locale to inspire us.

The gorgeous, picturesque Isle of Capri has made it's way onto our blog! I am so proud to say that I have been here and it is truly unbelievable! Capri is a combination of gardens, high style shops, historic architecture, and of course, the Mediterranean Sea! The natural, rustic atmosphere influences the laid back, quiet attitude of the locals. Numerous celebrities own homes there, and use the island to 'get away from it all.' Big names, like Prada, Gucci, and Chanel, have all set up shop there, bringing luxury to this beautiful island. Being a part of the Italian coast, wine is obviously present, but it is also a part of the region known for producing, the very potent, Limoncello (a lemon flavored liqueur).


Our wedding design begins with a historic, outdoor location and incorporates details that are uniquely 'Capri.' Shades of beige, yellow, and green keep the look natural, yet vibrant, while shades of bright purple are used to represent the gardens seen throughout the island. Not only will the wine, of course, be flowing, but it will also be brought into the design through the cork escort card holders. To incorporate the high style aspect of Capri, the fashion for the event would have to be pieces from designers such as, Monique Lhuillier and Manolo Blahnik. A gown with a vintage, almost antique look, captures the historical feel of Capri. The simple elegance that is seen in the gown would then be mimicked in the cake design. Reminiscent of the Mediterranean Sea, touches of lanterns and finger starfish would also be present. And, the best souvenir for this Capri-themed event, a small bottle of Limoncello!


Italian Timeless Style by uniqueeventdesign on Polyvore.com

For next week's inspiration, we want to hear from you! Do you have something that inspires you? Tell us about it, info@uniqueeventdesign.com!

Images courtesy of http://www.wikipedia.com/ and http://www.polyvore.com/.

Real Wedding: Stephanie & Jason - Lovebird Themed Nuptials

We originally covered Stephanie & Jason's wedding back in September -
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - Stephanie & Jason's Lovebird Wedding

Here's some of the great photos that we received from the photographer, Chad Spencer of CMS Photography.

Wedding Coordinator - Us!
Venue - Davis Island Garden Club
DJ - Delite Entertainment
Catering & Cake - Special Occasions
Officiate - Father Jack
Photographer - CMS Photography

Images courtesy of http://www.sarasota-photo.com/.