Our New Logo Revealed!

We are excited to officially reveal our new logo. We reached out to Aimee of Creative Montage to create a fresh and timeless logo for Exceeding Expectations. We have excited news and happenings in 2010, and wanted a logo to reflect the changes that will be taking place at Exceeding Expectations. Below is the logo we have been using for the past three years, as well as our new logo. Let us know your thoughts!
OLD LOGO

NEW LOGO

Real Weddings: Nicole & Seth

Veronica and I had the pleasure of coordinating Nicole & Seth's big day at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, DC. Their ceremony was held in the STUNNING garden of the Omni, and their cocktail hour followed on the patio. Guests were later escorted to the ballroom for dinner and dancing. Head over to Freed Photography's blog to check out the amazing work of Nick Griner, Nicole & Seth's amazing photographer. Congratulations Nicole & Seth!! Venue: Omni Shoreham, Washington, DC Photographer: Freed Photography (Nick Griner) Videographer: Blue Sky Films (Sarah Mendiola) Flowers: Kensington Flowers Cake: Classic Bakery DJ: Bialek's Music (Patrick Miranda) Ceremony Harpist: James Dronenburg Makeup: Creative Images (Clarissa Gary-Tinker)

Real Wedding: Cindy & Tony

This past weekend our team had the pleasure of coordinating Cindy & Tony’s special day. Their ceremony was held at Fort Belvoir Chapel, with a reception following at Fort Belvoir Officer’s Club.Our Bride & Groom were able to enjoy their family and friends while our team handled all of the logistics.Congratulations Cindy & Tony! We wish you all the best. Vendors: Reception Venue: Fort Belvoir Officer's Club Photographer: Jessica Smith Photography Cake: Bees Wedding Cakes Florist: Royal Floral Design DJ: Crown Entertainment (DJ CJ) Transportation: Fleet Transportation We loved the accent lighting in the ballroom The Belvoir Room offered stunning views of the Potomac. Cindy & Tony's guests departed with peanut butter fudge wrapped in a monogrammed favor box.
Guests were invited to sign a plate that will be hung in the couples new home.
Their beautiful wedding cake

Real Weddings: Benita & Jeff

We had the pleasure of assisting Benita and Jeff with planning their blue and white themed wedding on Saturday, August 8th. Benita & Jeff’s ceremony took place in a church in Washington, DC Saturday afternoon. They provided a shuttle for their guests to and from the ceremony and reception (which is always a nice touch). The 100 person reception took place at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Crystal City. I can not say enough great things about the first class service that Marriott provided. My team and I were blown away by their attention to detail and attentiveness to our Bride & Groom as well as the vendors. Details of Benita & Jeff’s big day are below:
Benita & Jeff's Gorgeous (and delicious) wedding cake.
Blue and white centerpieces alternated amongst the guest tables.
The tables were dressed in crushed metallic linen.
At the end of the night, the wonderful staff at the Marriott surprised our Bride & Groom with a special treat!
All-star line up:
Reception Venue: Crystal Gateway Marriott: A very special thank you to Megan Grosso and her fabulous team)
Videography: 5 Star Entertainment: It is always a treat to work with Jim and his very professional team of videographers.
Photography: Arthur Bunda Photography: Job well done for Arthur and Oscar!
Hair & Makeup: Richie Makeup: My bride’s always look amazing when they have their hair and makeup done by Ky.
Photobooth: Posh Booth: Neal and his partner worked very hard to make sure all guests had their picture taken and put together a wonderful guest book for Benita & Jeff to take home at the end of the night.
Cake: Creative Cakes: Very good cake and a pleasure working with Ann.
Florist: Convention Floral: Nubia’s work is amazing, and her wonderful spirit makes working with her a treat.
Transportation: Reston Limo: Great job Reston Limo!

Happy Anniversary to us!

We are excited to celebrate our 3 year anniversary! Three years ago today Exceeding Expectations opened its doors with the mission to provide affordable, professional, and reliable wedding and event coordination to all brides, regardless of their budget. We have been very blessed to have worked with amazing clients, vendors, and all-star staff. Here is to an amazing fourth year of business. Keep up the good work team!

Vendor Spotlight: MyEasyPhoto

One of my favorite photographers is Don Cherry (JMD) of MyEasyPhoto. His unique personality, talent and affordable prices are what brides love most about him. We have worked with Don on various occasions over the past few years. He was the official photographer for my wedding weekend and took my engagement photos. If you are need of a photographer for your wedding, birthday party, or special event, be sure to check out MyEasyPhoto, and tell them Exceeding Expectations sent you! Get to know Don of MyEasyPhoto:

1. What makes MyEasyPhoto unique is the ability to offer customers and clients professional high quality prints within minutes ofcapture. We’ve been in the “onsite printing” business since 1999 and have seen the industry grow from prints in hours and minutes to very high quality prints in seconds. We are extremely proud of being able to produce a stunning print within seconds of capture.

2. How do you exceed your client’s expectations? We first sit down with out client and determine what our client’s needs and expectations are. We then produce the goods by working hard to exceed those expectations in every way possible. The first rule we throw out is a limit on the number of images captured during a client’s wedding or event.

3. What is your favorite time of year to shoot? The Spring! I’d have to say that the “Spring” is my favorite time of year to shoot. I say this because the natural outdoor colors add so much more “pop” to photos. Nothing irks me more than to see a photo of a couple with a cluttered background when nature offers us the best background one could ask for.

4. At what local venues or landmarks do you most enjoy working? In this area, the District is so unique. There is no other location in the world better than DC. The landmarks and monuments really add to images captured there. An honorable mention is the Quantico Base Chapel because from a photographer’s point of view, the windows allow a lot of light to come through.

5. What’s one of your favorite photography trends? My favorite (and most exciting) photography trends are the following: 1) The ability to capture wireless and images instantly appear on the computer screen or wherever desired. I once did a wedding and had guests images appear on the church’s video system. As I captured candid images of them signing the guestbook and waiting for the wedding to start images would suddenly appear on the church’s large video screen. Seeing this occur, many people wondered how we made this happen and many thought this was a nice “touch” to the wedding: 2) For another client (…Geomyra and Philip’s wedding), we were hired to provide on-site prints of guests arriving and standing on the red carpet! The guests loved it! I even presented the B&G with a few choice prints that were captured during their reception. It was an honor and a blast to have been a part of their wedding. 3) Digital Capture Technology. This is very important part of the equation. Now, this is not to say that one could not capture an equal or better image with any other camera,,..but the release of the Nikon D3 has had the greatest impact (IMHO) on shooting weddings than any other camera in history. When it comes to weddings, the Nikon D3 is the only camera in my bag.

6. Is there something you wish all bride’s knew about your job or the wedding photography industry? I wish they knew how much I really care and enjoy capturing some of the most special moments of their lives. I also feel so specially honored to have been selected as their wedding photographer. I tell you this, if I were financially well off, I’d shoot weddings for free.

7. Do you have wedding saving tips and advice for our bride's on a budget? I sure do! If on a budget I recommend that the B&G skip on those things that will matter less as time goes by. For instance, the limo ride,...or even the videographer. Why? Well, think of it this way, video captures moments,…photography captures a single moment that can never be repeated! Lastly, the B&G should choose a venue that works for their lifestyle and character versus trying to go way overboard and be in debt from day one of their wedding.

When I’m behind the camera, I feel like a rock star,…like a celebrity, like an Olympic athlete poised to break a record. I enjoy photography so much I wish I could have a camera in my hands 24 hours a day,…everyday! I feel so honored to be the photographer that captures so many special moment of a person’s life. We all have but a few moments to live on mother earth and given the chance to capture a single moment of a person’s life is of such great honor for me that I’m in sheer awe. Of the thousands of images I captured, I still find it hard to delete an image. I say this because once deleted, the moment captured becomes lost in the space of time spent. Lastly, my greatest reward is when I get the chance to visit a client or friend’s home and see my work all throughout their homes. You know, there is no better feeling for me as a photographer than seeing my work on display in the daily lives of friends, customers and clients.

http://www.myeasyphoto.com/

Don Cherry (JMD) Ph: (703) 850-6367

myeasyphoto@comcast.net

Real Weddings: Daisy & Travis

One of our favorite couples Daisy & Travis was married on Friday at the Stone House in Sterling, VA. Daisy hired us to assist her in planning her big day from the beginning. We assisted her with finding top notch vendors within her budget and that fit her style. Daisy and Travis’ red and white themed wedding was intimate, fun, spiritual, and a breath of fresh air. Check out the event details and photos below:
Ceremony chairs set and ready for the guests
Bridesmaid bouquets
Daisy's red rose bouquet accented with rhinestones was absolutely gorgeous.
The strawberry and cream filled cake was one of the best that I have tasted. It was very popular among the guests. The detail in the cake design was a perfect matched to Daisy's dress.
The new Mr. & Mrs.
A special thank you to the all-star line up of vendors who did an amazing job:
Florist-Memorable Bouquet & Favors Photography-My Easy Photo Music-Total Dynasty Entertainment (DJ JButtah) Tables & Chairs-Potomac Party Rental Linen-Gala Cloths Cake-Taylor Made Cakes Catering-Wilson’s Catering

Exceeding Expectations is Featured!

We are super excited to be August's Featured Member on i-wed.org. I-wed is an online community made up of amazing wedding professionals around the country. It is a great resources for planners like myself to learn and grow from my peers in the industry. We are truly honored to be apart of a wonderful group of professionals. A special thank you to the always fabulous Terrica and the i-wed family.

Real Weddings: Anh Thy & Nghi

This past weekend we were honored to work with Anh Thy & Nghi on their wedding ceremony and reception. Their 65 person ceremony took place at the historic Woodlawn Plantation in Alexandria, Virginia. I can not say enough about the helpful and welcoming staff at Woodlawn. They were always willing to assist whenever we needed anything. The couple hosted a traditional Vietnamese ceremony, followed by a traditional American ceremony on the lawn of the plantation. Maryam Flowers provided the gorgeous ceremony and reception flowers for the couple. The orchid and crystal backdrop that she created looked absolutely gorgeous during the ceremony. After the ceremony the couple greeted 300 guests at the Waterford in Springfield. The venue was a perfect fit for Anh Thy and Nghi. The Waterford staff did a great job taking care of our Bride, Groom and their guests. The guests danced the night away with a live band (Red Sun) and really had a great time. We really enjoyed working with Anh Thy & Nghi, and wish them all of the best on their new journey together. A few non-pro pictures below: Woodlawn Plantation before ceremony setup: Ceremony chairs and arrangements set Beautiful backdrop created by Maryam of Maryam Flowers Ceremony underway Room for cocktail hour set and ready for our guests Placecard and favor table Centerpiece decorated with butterflies and pink rocks.
Candle centerpieces with butterflies. (The centerpieces looked amazing when we dimmed the lights).
The pink and white candy bar was a huge hit among the guests.

Honeymoon Spotlight: Aruba

It only seems fitting to showcase the beautiful island of Aruba, as that is where my husband and I honeymooned last August. We were blessed with a five day stay at the newly renovated Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino. Of the numerous resorts to choose from in Aruba, the Hyatt Regency is ranked at the top of the list. When researching a honeymoon location, we were looking for a luxury (but affordable) resort that had a casino, swimming pool, five star restaurants, and lots of entertainment near by. It is no secret that I enjoy a great meal and great company. What I loved most about Aruba was the food, friendly attitude of the locals, and gorgeous weather. Getting around the island was very easy and affordable. We had received a tip to take advantage of the local bus system, and it work out great. The Hyatt’s concierge attendant was a great help. He assisted us with booking dinner reservations and suggestions on things to do on the island. Aruba is only a three hour plane ride from Miami, which means more time vacationing, and less time traveling. Be sure to check out Madame Janette, Renaissance Mall for luxury shopping and Aruba Heli Tours for tours of the island. We can’t wait to go back to soak up the food, fun and sun!
Tell us, where are you honeymooning?

Wedding Registry: Kitchen Appliances

An exciting element to planning your wedding is registering for gifts for your new home and life with your spouse. This is the only time in your life that your family and friends will likely splurge and actually buy you something you like. A few of my favorite must have kitchen appliances that I registered for, and use on a regular basis: Rival® 6-Quart Stainless Steel Crock-Pot® $50 As a newlywed and business owner, my day is packed with phone calls, emails, meetings, etc. The slow cooker has become my dear friend providing easy but delicious meals for me and my hubby. I am a huge fan of the Rival Crock-Pot 3 in 1 cookbook and recently discovered the crock-pot blog. Keurig® Platinum Single Serve Brewer/Coffee Maker $175 I am not a coffee drinker, however we sometimes have guests over that ask for coffee or tea. The Keruig Single Serve Brewer is ideal for brewing single cups of your favorite coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Black and Decker® 6-Slice Toaster Oven $80 I love how big this toaster oven is. We use it to make toast, garlic bread and pizza in no time. Hamilton Beach® Smooth Touch Can Opener $35 I really like the design of this can opener. I am also a fan of the smooth edges that the can opener leaves. George Foreman Next Generation Grill with Removable Plates $75 No kitchen is complete without a George Foreman Grill. I am a fan of their stainless steel design and removable plates. The Foreman Grill makes grilling hamburgers and hotdogs quick and easy. Most items are available at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Crate & Barrel Leave us a comment and let us know what some of your favorite registry items are!

Vendor Spotlight: Fusions Cuisine



Looking for a caterer for your upcoming wedding that stands out among the rest? Fusion's Cuisine is a favorite among Exceeding Expectations and our brides. We are always excited to work with their talented team of professionals. When our clients book Fusions, they are guaranteed five star service. We asked Fusions President Blaise Thompson and Executive Chef James Thompson to give us insight on why they are a Bride's Choice Award Recipient:

What makes Fusions Cuisine unique? We have a fine dining Executive Chef who is personally involved in preparing the food during production - not just line cooks and sous chefs. This makes a distinct difference in the quality of food that is produced. An Executive Chef has a different level of experience and expertise than everyone else.

How do you exceed your client’s expectations? We customize menus for our brides to reflect WHO they are and WHERE they are from. This allows the food to be an extension of their who they are and bring a very personal level of detail to the menu development. We procure the best products possible and are very particular about our staff on site. They interact quite a bit with guests and should be able to explain the food and help create a fine dining experience for the attendees.

What is your favorite item on your company’s menu? We have many food favorites - during the summer our sweet potato hash and our melon salad with sambal are two big favorite side dishes. Our Root Vegetable Gratin main entree is something vegetarians love for seated meals. The unique hors d'oeuvres our Chef develops for every event are always fun and intriguing. They are always a big "WOW!"

What’s one of your favorite trends? Favorite cooking trend: Mixing old and new cooking techniques. Dabbling in molecular gastronomy and using it where it makes sense.

Is there something you wish all bride’s knew about your job or the catering industry? The one thing I wish people would understand is good service really matters and good service is not cheap. You can't run a wedding (or any event) successfully without enough staff to set up, work the reception and handle cleaning in a timely fashion. They interact with guests from beginning to end. Having a reception properly staffed will make or break the success of the overall experience. Trust your caterer. They know what they are talking about.

Do you have wedding saving tips and advice for our bride's on a budget? Cost saving tips - while a champagne toast is nice, it's not always appreciated by all guests. Very few people actually drink champagne. Instead, offer champagne at the bar and let guests toast with a drink they already have in their hand. This easily saves a couple hundred dollars in glassware and champagne.

To learn more about Fusions Cusine, be sure to check out their website and five star reviews on WeddingWire.


Wedding Wednesday

Does anyone know what today is at Exceeding Expectations? Today is “Wedding Wednesday.” Wedding Wednesday is all about you, our EE Bride & Groom. This means that today you are responsible for taking an evening to enjoy each others company and remember why you fell in love! Wedding topics are off limits. There is to be no mention of wedding cake, flowers, your bridal party or anything related to the big day. Instead, take the day to check up on your fiancé and see what other things are happening in their life. Today’s Wedding Wednesday date is a classic: dinner and a movie. Grab a bite to eat at a local favorite and enjoy an evening showing of the latest blockbusters. Feel free to leave us a comment with your date ideas!

Quote of the Day

"There are three types of people in the world; ones who make it happen; ones who watch it happen, & ones who say, what happened?"

Real Weddings: Nicole + Nic

A few months ago I was contacted by a co-worker of one of my friend’s regarding a destination wedding. The bride (Nicole) called Exceeding Expectations and inquired about our Partial Planning package for her destination wedding in San Diego, CA. Nicole had booked a few of her vendors, but was still in need of a photographer, hotel room block, florist, Officiant, design assistance, and stationary assembly. After meeting Nicole, we were very excited and anxious to start working. Throughout the five month planning period, we researched and booked her remaining vendors. Exceeding Expectations also designed and handmade Nicole and Nic’s pocketfold invites and menu cards for their twelve guests. Veronica and I arrived in San Diego two days prior to Nicole & Nic’s big day. We ran errands for the couple and finalized the wedding details. Below are a few pictures we took with our camera. Working with Nicole and Nic was an absolute dream.
The beautiful La Jolla Woman's Club, La Jolla, California
Veronica hard at work decorating the altar.
Nicole wanted a white, blue and green dinner table. We used a white tablecloth and green napkins to add a "pop" of color for a clean crisp look.
Nicole and Nic's beautiful centerpieces made of blue and green hydrangea and limes provided by Whimsey Florals.
Exceeding Expectations designed and handmade the personalized menu cards for each guest.
The table is complete, and ready for dinner!
We used two large cylinder vases with floating candles, black rocks and orchids for the ceremony.
A few of the blue and green centerpieces and candles.
Nicole and Nic spoiled their guests with Godiva wedding cake favors.
Their flawless cake was made by FabCakes.
Congrats Nicole & Nic!