Pick Good Attendants

I have been in many weddings as a junior bridesmaid, a bridesmaid, a maid of honor, and then also a bride.  I have been present to witness hundreds of weddings to which I was on the sidelines as the event supplier.  One thing I notice that stands out is the attendants at the wedding - they can make or break the big day.  Pick your attendants carefully.  Pick them for who they are to you, but also how reliable they are for you and will be on your wedding day.  Pick the ones that will make you laugh when you want to cry, will lift you up when you fall down, will fix your hair and make up, and shower you will love.  Pick the ones that want nothing for you but that you shine.  Grooms, pick your BEST men.  Pick the ones who show up.  The ones who are not just there for your wedding, but will be there for the birth of your son.  The ones who will back you, laugh with you, and get you where you need to be on time and sober.  This is important.  You have one day to give your wife the best of you and the company you keep may impact what your best looks like.  If no matter what you want you end up going with the obligatory attendants (i.e. siblings, cousins) then at the very least make sure you pick your vendors well.  Pauline and I are also there when the bridal party breaks down - Abacus may go above and beyond when it comes to service, but choose wisely there are more of us out there than you realize.  The vendor who delivers your kegs, the vendor who sets up the room, the DJ, all of these people should be hired not only on their skill but also on the committment to YOUR day.  They need to be people invested in YOU. 

Little Reminders

Often times I find myself so busy going from one task to another that I question whether or not I am on the right track.  Should I slow down?  Do I have margin and balance in my life?  Is this a healthy pace?  All of these questions will pass through during the course of my running.  This week I had to collect a stage that I had rented to Mill Creek Pub.  I would have generally had a second set of hands for this task but I was alone.  As I walked into the restaurant I hear, "Donna"!  I look over and there sits my pastor Mark Newell and a friend of his at a table for lunch.  What luck - I tell him how happy I am to see him because I need help.  He and his friend walk the heavy stage to my truck.  I wonder what I did to deserve this kind of luck.  And what I have done to have these kind of people in my life.  People that get up from their lunch date to lift a heavy stage for me without a second thought.  I called the restaurant to pay for their lunch and the owner's response was, "don't worry about it - we are having them help us lift an oven so we are happy to buy their lunch". This blog is a little reminder to myself that all the running around, investing in others, and doing whatever it takes to run my business is the right thing for me.  I am on the right track and I have support from amazing community members like Mill Creek Pub and North Creek Church.  Community members who laugh when I need to pick up a stage on my own.  Community members who lift me up, hug me, and ultimately remind me that I am right where I need to be.  Additionally, I was able to meet with another community partner - Pacific Perks coffee.  Jim took time to talk shop with Pauline and I and we walked away with yet another connection to remind us that we are right where we are needed.  Thanks!

April Showers...

Yesterday was a gorgeous, sunny day.  We played ball in the street, walked around the neighborhood and looked at the spring flowers - somehow we all just feel better when the sun comes out in the Northwest. 

I catch myself wondering if that euphoria would be so great if we didn't live in the Northwest.  If it were sunny all the time would we feel great all the time or would our bodies simply adjust to the environment?  Would I miss the gratitude I feel when I see the sunshine?  Growing up in the Northwest it's all we know that the sunshine is NEVER to be taken for granted.  When the sun comes out you better stop what you are doing and enjoy it. 

Weddings and events bring similar euphoria to the participants.  How excited are brides and grooms on their wedding day?  They have planned and prepared, tasted, organized, sized and are ready for the day.  Would they grow weary of that excitement if they got married every day?  Would there be less butterflies?  No butterflies?  If we had our weddings every day, renewed our vows every day - would we just make it part of our daily routine and not put the thought into it, or the excitement?  I wonder.  Of course, we don't get married every day.  We have THE day to plan for, commit to, execute, and build our butterflies around for this one perfect shot.  Surrounding yourself with amazing planners and professionals is key.  Your day should be like the last day of sunshine in the Northwest.  Stop everything you are doing and enjoy!  Below are some wonderful vendors that Abacus highly recommends:


http://www.luxeproductionsnw.com/

http://www.eastforkcellars.com/

http://www.aprilwilliamsphotography.com/

http://www.niellas.com/

The Rain and Weddings all come at once.

Haven't we enjoyed a beautiful fall/winter/spring in the northwest this year?  Lots of dry, sunny days so we don't turn into miserable hermits - it has been a wonderful year so far.  Of course I noticed that Abacus is booking wedding after wedding just as I look outside at the grey, damp, cold weather.  This spring northwest wheather is of course something we are very accustomed to - but it always catches me a little off guard.  Not because I don't expect it, but because it comes at the same time that our brides start getting quotes.  Just when I want to crawl in bed with a good book and turn on the fireplace, brides are getting excited for the sun to shine on their big day.  Congratulations to Emily who contacted us this week!  We are so excited for you.  It's going to be a wonderful day in September!  Here's to the sun shining for all our happy couples!!!

Congratulations from Abacus Event Rentals!

I Blinked

My daughter has a friend over to spend the night tonight.  Our house is a VERY fun house for little girls.  I have a closet downstairs with about 10 wedding dresses that I collected from trade shows over the years.  Dress up is a popular past time here.  I headed dowsnstairs to help with zippers and buttons and I caught myself in the closet.  In one corner of the closet I have a collection of baby clothes that I have saved.  On the other side of the closet hang wedding dresses.  All too soon I will be blinking again and I won't be in the downstairs closet - I will be in a changing room of a hotel helping my daughter zip her actual wedding dress.  How does this happen?  Everyone tells you it happens, tries to prepare you for it and then the reality hits you harder than you ever imagine.  Hits you when you are trying to create a fun sleepover for your nearing 12 year old.  I headed back upstairs to compose myself after my heart sank in that innocent looking closet. 

Tomorrow I get to host a trade show booth at another wedding show and I cannot wait!  Marry Me at the Vancouver Hilton is going to be great!  I will talk with mothers whose daughters were just last night trying on wedding dresses.  I will meet women who were hosting sleepovers yesterday, trying on dresses and painting their nails.  I will see what happens when we blink.  What happens when we meet the person who makes us turn into little girls again.  Makes us laugh, makes us cry, makes us blush, and makes us dream about our futures.  These women are going to come by my booth and ask for recommendations.  All I may be able to say is "don't blink" because all too soon baby clothes turn into wedding dresses.  Enjoy every single moment of planning to picking out colors to food.  Have the best time of your life preparing for the biggest day of your life.  Don't miss a second of it worrying about problems but rather dive in and play your best round of dress up ever!

Upcoming Fun!!!

If you have been following my blog, you will know that I failed miserably at the goal of writing once a week.  However, being too busy to blog is a great problem to have, although still a problem.  My daily life consists of SO MANY stories that I want to sit down and tell you all about.  Time eludes me so I am just going to catch you up on our upcoming fun.  Come and see Abacus at the Marry Me Wedding Event at the downtown Vancouver Hilton this weekend!  The event runs on Sunday from 10am-2pm and there will be great giveaways, fun vendors and US!!!  Pauline and I will be giving away several prizes throughout the day and a $150 giveaway towards your wedding rental for one lucky couple.  Abacus will have a fun interactive booth in the entry way where you can design your table scape.  Whether it's a wedding or a corporate function - we encourage you to meet us at our booth and have fun playing with linen and dressing your table.  Information on the event can be located at :  http://www.facebook.com/MarryMeEvent?sk=wall

PLEASE SIGN UP TO FOLLOW OUR BLOG - WE WANT ALL OF YOU TO BE A PART OF OUR JOURNEY.  SEE YOU SUNDAY!

Thank you for your support!!!

I recently was notified that I have been nominated for Businessperson of the Year and Abacus has been nominated for Business of the Year with the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce.  We are so grateful for all of our friends and peers who believe in what we are doing in our community.  Thank you all so much.  I had to write a letter to the Chamber accepting the nomination and talking a little more about what I do in business...here's what I came up with...

Dear Chamber Members:

Thank you for the opportunity to be recognized at the Businessperson of the Year for the Battle Ground Chamber.  I am writing in response to tell you a little more about myself, my business practices, and what I stand for as a local businessperson.

As many in the community know I am one half of a partnership that makes up Abacus Event Rental in Ridgefield, WA.  As a local business owner, community involvement and support is of the utmost importance to Pauline and myself.  As a means to support the growth of our small business and maintain financial stability I have always continued to hold a full time position.  My current position is held as a community liaison for Koelsch Senior Communities.

Through my work for Koelsch I oversee the Cascade, Hampton, and Ashley Inns in Vancouver, WA.  I am highly involved in the Clark County Senior Services Network, as well as Specifically Seniors which is a non-profit agency that maintains the purpose of advocacy, awareness, and fund-raising for senior services in Clark County.  I am a member of the board for Specifically Seniors and also highly involved with the board of the Clark County Senior EXPO.  I have been a member of the Battle Ground and Vancouver Chambers for two years and I am highly involved.  From volunteering to sponsoring to donating, I find the chamber to be a wonderful showcase for any businessperson.  I work with families in Battle Ground, Ridgefield, and Vancouver areas to locate funding for seniors, find healthcare sources, assistance programs, and provide overall support for seniors and their families through hospital visits and help in crisis situations.  This work is near and dear to my heart and ties in greatly with the goal of Pauline and my business.

Abacus Event Rental recently moved into warehouse space in Ridgefield and will be expanding our space in 2012.  We have already outgrown the space, thanks to the loyal support of our community.  We feel greatly blessed that we are able to partner with several other local businesses in the space.  East Fork Cellars and Pacific Coast Fish Company have been wonderful to have as neighbors in our Ridgefield home.  We count it an amazing opportunity to be able to not only grow our business but also bring awareness to these other local small businesses.  We all benefit from one another’s presence and support and grow one another in our business goals.  Pauline and I pride ourselves on excellent customer service and will go the extra mile every single time to make the client happy.  You can read more about what we stand for on our website at:  www.abacuseventrentals.com or on my blog at: http://abacusevents.blogspot.com/

We believe highly in contributing to non-profits in our community and supporting all our small businesses.  We are all in this together and I help my seniors and my community with all that God has given me and I thank you once again for the recognition.