Rave Review for the Best Planners in Cayman

The Celebrations Special Events Team (l-r):S/E Manager Keisha Parcells,
Planners: Jaime Alexanderson; Tiffany Amesbury; Pascale Gillon and Ahmed Elkaswani

Celebrations picked up two of the coveted prizes at the Best of Cayman awards held at the Wharf on Wednesday, November 7th. Not only did they win the ‘Best Wedding Planners’ award, but they also won the ‘Best Event Planners’ award.

Mrs. Joanne Brown, Managing Director at Celebrations, commented: “It was a very successful night for Celebrations and particularly for our innovative event planners. It is always nice to be recognized for our contribution and bringing happiness to people through our events is what makes it all worthwhile. Ensuring that Celebrations is constantly evolving and improving gives me my enthusiasm for the business."

Pascale Gillon, a Celebrations Event Planner, who was present on the night to collect the award, said "This is a significant achievement when you consider the very high standard of work entered into the competition. We had a fantastic evening, after our success winning the award for ‘Best Wedding Planners’ and then the ‘Best Event Planners’ it feels like we have completed the grand slam!” Celebrations were one of few companies to win two awards on the night.

Lisa Kelley of Best of Cayman commended Celebrations on providing the beautiful setting and décor on the night, “Best of Cayman would like to thank Celebrations for making our 2007 Awards Ceremony beautiful. Our theme this year was “Old Hollywood Glitz and Glam” and Celebrations provided everything from a life size Marilyn Monroe to our stage décor of Movie reels. We would also like to congratulate Celebrations for winning a “Best of” Award two years in a row. Thanks again for all your support’. Lisa stopped by Celebrations Enchanted Store at the Mirco Centre on November 23rd to present the event planners with their award.

For Celebrations, winning the best wedding planner award is especially significant as the premiere of “My Destination Wedding with The Knot” is fast approaching. This is a special TV show by The Knot that will highlight Celebration’s design and décor work for a Hindu-style wedding in Little Cayman in October. It will be aired on the Style Network on December 15th at 9pm est.

Holiday Wreaths Help Community

Cancer survivor, Ms. Barbara Edwards, receives her beautiful custom made wreath. From L to R Christine Sanders of the Cancer Society, Craig Arch of Arch Automotive, Ms. Barbara Edwards and Jo Anne Brown.

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, BWI- 15 November, 2007. Celebrations’ Enchanted Christmas Store at the Mirco Centre was once again filled with joy and camaraderie on Friday November 9th as Cancer survivor, Barbara Edwards, accepted a beautiful custom made wreath from Craig Arch of Arch Automotive. The joy on Ms. Edwards’ face spoke volumes as she accepted her generous gift. Also in attendance were Christine Sanders of the Cancer Society and Jo-Anne Brown of Celebrations.

“Celebrations is one of the Society's Partners in Prevention and we are grateful to them for making the Society one of the charities for whom they made and auctioned a wreath. It was generous and fitting that Arch Automotive, the winners of the wreath, decided to donate it to a breast cancer survivor, Barbara Edwards,” stated Ms. Sanders.

Arch Automotive was one of the bidders in the Celebrations Red Door Silent Auction held at Celebrations’ annual Holiday Open House on October 17th.

Celebrations Marketing Executive Denize Solomon hands Richard Goubault the custom-made wreath representing CI Crisis Centre.

The unique ‘Red Door Silent Auction’ was a huge fundraising effort benefiting several local non-profit organizations including the Cancer Society, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, The Humane Society, Crisis Center and Hospice Care. Attendees at the Holiday Open House placed bids on fabulous one-of-a-kind holiday wreaths, themed to match each organization’s brand. Wreaths were created by the amazingly talented Celebrations Design team.

“These local groups play an essential role in our local community. It is vital that we support them in anyway we can,” stated Celebrations Managing Director, Jo Anne Brown. “We at Celebrations are committed to working with the community. Given the success of the Red Door Silent Auction, we hope to make it annual event. I would like to thank all those who donated so generously as well as my wonderful design team here at Celebrations who donated their time and skills to create these wonderful wreaths.”

Celebrations will continue to partner with non-profit groups and the local community to help make a difference to the quality of life in the Cayman Islands.

Top 12 Tips For A Great Thanksgiving

1. Consult our talented design team at Celebrations and create a unique centrepiece to accentuate your table and wow your guests!

2. Choose Fall colours for your tablecloth so that it compliments your centrepiece. See Celebrations variety of colourful linen rentals to give your table that rustic holiday feel.

3. Keep club soda nearby to clean spots or stains on the tablecloth or clothing.

4. Start defrosting the frozen turkey in the back of the refrigerator on Monday 19th. Mark it in your diary!

5. Here at Celebrations, we believe that little details make all the difference. Attention to the placement of your cutlery can make your table sparkle. When setting the table ensure all blades point toward the plate. A cream-soup spoon lies to the right and slightly above the regular spoon.

6. The day before, prepare any side dishes that can be served cold or quickly reheated. You can also make salad dressings and wash your greens.

7. Thanksgiving is a production, so keep the drinks simple, serve only nice bottles of white and red wine: Pour the white with the soup and the red with dinner

8. Create a relaxed ambiance with music. Our retail store has a wide variety of CDs to compliment every occasion.

9. Don’t choose a dessert that has to be prepared immediately before serving. Start by making the dessert, because it often requires the most effort and will usually be the most memorable part of a meal.

10. To save time creating a cheese platter, why not check out Celebrations wonderful variety of gourmet baskets. Or if you are a guest attending a Thanksgiving dinner, this makes the ideal gift for your host!

11. Here at Celebrations, we are committed to keeping Cayman clean. Make it easy for guests who help you clean up to help you recycle. Place bins in the kitchen labeled "glass," "cans" and "trash."

12. Whenever anyone offers to help or bring a dish, say, "Yes, thank you!"

Here are some more great decor ideas to make your Thanksgiving one to remember!

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Celebrations!

Anne Ogden - Allied Employee of the Year

Last October 26th, one of Celebrations' pioneer staff won the Allied Employee of the Year, an annual awards show organized by the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) in recognition of the great service rendered by employees working for the tourism industry.

Ann Marie Louise Ogden, or more well-known as Miss Ann, has been our Designer from Celebrations’ inception, 14 years ago. Miss Ann has been the creative force behind most if not all of Celebrations’ world class event and wedding design. As our senior designer, she conceptualizes & creates our entire top of the line décor, from the fold of the napkin, to the centrepiece, to the lay out of an event, to the most breathtaking backdrops. In short she gives the flair and special touch that Celebrations’ events and weddings are known for. Her constant need to create unique and awe-inspiring décor & floral arrangements has set the standards not only within Celebrations but through out the industry of floral design and event décor.

Her talent not only lies in event décor and floral artistry. She, too, is an impressive baker. In fact, some of her scrumptious creations have been featured in widely-circulated international magazines.

Her drive for excellence is beyond par. Her anything-is-possible attitude has taken us to great heights. Her friendly demeanour has not only endeared her to the people that she works with but to the entire Cayman community; not to mention the visitors (our clients) that come in contact with her. So many have commented and come back to Cayman, and made note that her warm outgoing and positive attitude were instrumental in them returning to Cayman. Always with a smile and an infectious laughter, it’s hard not to feel at ease with her.

In fact, we are even willing to go as far as to say that Miss Anne is a great ambassador for the Cayman Islands because she embodies what Cayman is all about, excellence, irresistible charm and warm hospitality.

A beautiful soul, a creative powerhouse, an inspiration to everyone, that’s our Miss Ann.