Save Yourself Stress at Christmas - Hire a Personal Shopper!

Personal Shopper for your Staff or Client Christmas Gifts!

Need some help purchasing Christmas Gifts for your staff or clients? We are a team of experienced Gift Gurus ready to find you the best value. We will shop, wrap and deliver the gifts. What does that mean for you? NO STRESS and more time to focus on your business.

We will ask you some simple questions to help guide you and purchase gifts only that you approve and are within your budget.

We will buy, wrap, and deliver your Christmas presents worry free. As we are also experienced event planners, we are happy to set up the gifts at your company Christmas party at each person's table setting.

Tell us how we can help and we will happily do so. Please reply to this ad with some ideas and your contact info. Servicing Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Milton, Etobicoke, Toronto, Woodbrdige, Vaughan, Caledon, Bolton, Orangeville and Kleinburg.

Price depends on the number of gifts you require and services you request.

Our Gift Gurus will make you look good!

Contact us today!

Gift Baskets Are A Great Way To Say Thank You

Gift baskets are a great way to say Thank You and let your recipient know that you appreciate them.  At Christmas Time, companies often give gift baskets to their staff and employees as a way to say thank you for their hard work and dedication.  Organizations also typically give their suppliers and vendors a Christmas gift and a gift basket is a wonderful idea to show your appreciation.  Baskets allow for a lot of freedom because they can be assembled in many ways and customized for a specific recipient.

Need a good idea to thank a friend?  A teacher?  A colleague?  A party host?  Gift baskets are a nice way to say thank you. Baskets are an effective and practical way to give a lasting impression.

 

The Role of an Event Coordinator

Whether you require a Wedding Coordinator or a Manager to supervise your special day, a Coordinator will play an important role in your event. A Coordinator’s primary function is to help a couple learn, implement and manage all the necessary tasks required to host a successful event.

Occasion Giftware is based out of a city close to Toronto, Ontario Canada. We have a professional and reliable team of coordinators ready to be your planer, facilitator, mediator, manager and organizer. We will be “on top” of every finite detail. In large events, anything can happen. An Event Coordinator is trained to handle any situation that will arise. Even the most well-planned and beautifully orchestrated event can have a twist that a Coordinator can skilfully solve. We are efficient people that will assist you in making your event a success.

Here is some more information about the duties of an On The Day Wedding Coordinator. We also specialize in Corporate Events, Company Grand Openings, Kick Off Meetings, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Birthdays, Anniversary Parties and more. Contact us to learn more about booking an On The Day Event Coordinator.

How to Stay Sane in Wedding Planning!

It’s unanimous. Everyone goes through their weddings with some form of anxiety. When you’re dealing with so many vendors, so many decisions and so many details, it’s possible that things can go wrong. There are some simple things that you can do when planning your special event. Whether it’s a wedding or any other occasion, try not to fret and remember these things:

1. Stay Optimistic. Positive thinking acts in positive ways, and if you let yourself worry, your own attitude becomes infectious. A positive attitude keeps you calm, which reflects off of those around you. What ruins a wedding – or any event – is not specifically the thing that goes wrong, but the reactions when it does. If you keep your head up and show it doesn’t faze you and that you can be flexible, it becomes much easier to handle the situation.

2. Use Common Sense. This is a rather broad suggestion, but ultimately just as useful. Though staying positive is important, you also should have realistic expectations. Do not leave anything for the last minute and think that you will have time to get it done before the wedding. If you hire professionals for catering or decorations, listen to their advice rather than going with your ideal. If it isn’t practical, and they warn you, it would probably be best to change your plans slightly.

3. If You’re Not Certain, Check. People are fallible. They forget things and make mistakes. Thus, if you cannot be certain that everything is prepared, or if the guests who didn’t respond are coming or not, it will never hurt to call and spend a few minutes making sure everything is in order. If it is, then you have nothing to worry about. If it isn’t, well, congratulations! By checking, you now know the problem and can solve it without any fuss or stress.

4. Take Care of Yourself. The body tends to deal with stress in different ways, all of which are guaranteed to make things more difficult. It might seem like obvious advice, but sleeping well, eating healthily and not pushing yourself are quite important before a big event. Just as obvious advice: if the day is sunny, use sunscreen. Protect yourself from the weather if required, as a sunburn may not put you in the mood to celebrate.

Hopefully, these simple tips will help you in keeping your wedding stress-free. Be sure to have fun!

Pew Bows? Yes!

Decorating for a wedding is blissful and personal. The perfect amount of flair and elegance is important to achieve when decorating the pews in your church. Fortunately, pew bows are a delightful decoration to consider.

Pew bows are graceful, and certainly an excellent way to add sparkle to the wedding. They are also simple enough to be combined effectively with greenery and floral arrangements. They ensure the church looks picture perfect for those fairytale quality pictures. A cost effective method is to consider putting pew bows on every second pew. For photography reasons, only one pew bow is necessary on every second pew within the first twelve rows.

When you look back at your pictures or video when walking down the aisle, exchanging your vows or placing your rings, the pew bows will add a nice touch the whole visual ambiance.

Another way the bows can be used is to supplement them with a ribbon twining up the pew, adding to their enchanting quality.

Some ready-made pew bows, available in ivory or white, can be found here.

Healthy Smoothies

In today’s society, it is important to keep an eye out for anything that is both healthy and delicious. People have become more and more aware of what is in their food, and consequently grown more active in taking the healthier option.

A convenient and healthy gift idea for a guest favour is a Smoothie Mix. They are packaged attractively, eliminating the need for gift wrapping them, and are nutritious, with no MSG. They also don’t have any gluten, artificial colours, flavours, preservatives or trans fat. They make excellent gifts because they don’t need a particular theme, and are thoughtful, healthy and delicious. Available flavours:

• Blueberry
• Blackberry
• Orange Carrot
• Chocolate Coffee
• Honeydew
• Kiwi
• Milk Chocolate
• Mixed Fruit
• Mojito
• Papaya
• Peach Strawberry
• Wild Strawberry

Smoothies make practical guest favours for every occasion. These edible gifts are a great idea to give guests something to enjoy once they get home.

Perfect Catch Wedding Theme

There is something romantic about the ocean. It has captured the hearts of poets and artists of all kinds, and a long walk on the beach is still as romantic today as it was twenty years ago. Just as there is romance, there is also humour aplenty, and there is a theme that combines both.

There are no other fish in the sea once you’ve found the perfect match, and you can convey that with guest books, favours, and cake toppers. They range from stunning seaside displays to charming fish accents to the depiction of a bride or groom that is hooked on love. This theme adds variety, and allows you to add in a great deal of nautical accents, giving you the opportunity for fun and refreshing combinations.

Hiring an On the Day Wedding Coordinator

Why use an “On the Day” Wedding Coordinator?

Having an “On the Day” wedding coordinator will allow the couple & their guests to relax and enjoy the celebration. What would you rather…

· Frantically ask someone from your bridal party to use their cell phone to track down one of your late vendors OR ensure that someone makes sure all vendors are there on time?

· Would you want your guests to arrive at the reception only to find a seat missing at the table OR ensure that there are enough chairs for your guests?

· Incur stress because the reception table isn’t the way you wanted OR arrive to the hall after taking pictures and be pleased with the way everything is set up?

Having experienced and professional wedding coordinators will ensure your wedding day runs smoothly…stress free.

How does it work? Occasion Giftware will meet with the couple two to four weeks before the day to discuss all the details of your wedding. We will take time to understand exactly what the couple has envisioned their special day to be like. We will ask questions to ensure that you receive the services that you paid for by your other vendors. If necessary, we are happy to make contact with all the suppliers involved including your venue, florist, DJ, photographer, etc. We will document all that’s expected thus providing us with the empowerment to know exactly what the bride and groom want delivered on their special day.

How much do wedding coordinators cost? The demands and requests of each wedding are different. Occasion Giftware simply charges for our time, rather than a percentage of your budget. Click here to get in touch with Occasion Giftware and lean how an “On the Day” Wedding Coordinator can help with your celebration. Click here to learn more about On The Day Wedding Coordination services

Bake Your Own Mini Muffins

Who doesn’t like baked goods? Continuing the trend of innovative, DIY guest favours, muffin mixes are great choices for any sort of event, and most especially for a child’s birthday party. These great gifts come already packaged, so there’s no need to gift wrap them. Once baked, the smell of muffins is practically irresistible.

Not only are they delicious, but baking them is a great family activity. The muffins contain calcium, iron and fibre, making them a healthy treat. It’s an unconventional sort of favour, and sure to be remembered by your guests. Edible favours are practical, original, and also ensure that even someone who isn’t adept at baking or cooking can make enjoyable snacks. Just add water and viola!

Secrets of a Happy Marriage - According to the Best Man

The Best Man speech is an important part of the wedding, and it is only complete when you have some good jokes! Wedding one-liners are sure to relax everyone, and luckily, there are many to be had. There are thousands of things to poke fun at in a marriage, and here is just a tiny fraction to start the fun.

• Love is blind, but marriage is a real eye-opener.
• The most effective way to remember your wife’s birthday is to forget it once.
• Words to live by – do not argue with a spouse who is packing your parachute.
• Go to bed angry – it’s better to go to bed angry rather than spend the night fighting, so you can have the energy to win the fight in the morning.
• Always wear your wedding ring; spouses who take them off will never win an argument again. Ever.

Coasters...A Great Favour Idea!

Coasters have become popular favours for weddings and other special events.  No longer will you see simple cork boards to protect the table from a drink.  Today’s coaster designs are refined, elegant, and an addition to home décor.  The most practical coaster also serves as a photo frame to allow your recipient to customize the coaster with their own personal pictures.

Available to suit the themes of all four seasons, glass coasters are a great choice to be used as guest favours, as they can fit numerous event themes and either be given out normally or paired with a particular photo to add a personal touch. Match these favours with the theme of your event by changing the ribbon colour, and voila…a practical and classy favour idea.

Suitable for many events including weddings, bridal showers, baby showers and religious events including baptisms, first holy communions and confirmations.  Take a look at some coaster ideas here.

Towel Cakes - What a Great Favour Idea!

Towel cakes are a trendy and practical guest favour. Rolled neatly, towel cakes can be styled into anything from the usual tiered cake, to a cute cupcake or a fun towel sundae! To make your own towel cake, simply purchase thin wash cloths or face towels in the colour of your choice. Roll the towels into the delectable dessert you are trying to replicate. Secure then with safety pins or long straight pins and finish with ribbon, satin or organza. To complete the image, add artificial cherries, pieces of chocolate, flowers, appliqués, or accessories. A great cost effective Do It Yourself (DIY) project!

Towel cakes are ideal favours for baby showers, bridal showers, weddings or parties. If you aren’t looking for a DIY project, a cost effective way is to purchase them already prepared in gift packaging with a thank you tag and organza ribbon. To match your cupcake theme, try a Cute and Sweet Cupcake Towel Cake. If you are going for a summer or outdoor theme, how about a Sweet Sundae Towel Cake? Want to express your love? Try going for a Sweet Heart Cake. Word of caution...these dessert favours look so good your guests will want to eat them!

Turn a hand or face towel into an exciting gift by giving your guest a charming creation with an undeniable appeal. These cloth confections are clever spin on a functional product, and are bound to delight your guests. Towel cakes offer good, clean fun!

Wedding Colours - What to Choose?

After the proposal, an important question when planning a wedding is the colour scheme. Choosing your wedding colours is a decision that will need to be made to help you plan the special day. The colours you choose for your wedding day set the style and tone for your entire event. You can use colour in decorations, the cake, bridesmaids’ dresses, flowers, table linens, favour wrapping and invitations. Choose colours you love but also be sure to consider the following:

1. What season will you marry in?

Silver, ivory, blue and white all make great choices for a winter wedding. Add touches of platinum or cranberry to create a magical look. Green and pale colours, such as pale blue, pink or pastel yellow, are excellent for a spring theme. Blue, yellow and coral are excellent colours for a summer wedding or a beach themed event. Orange, brown and striking red are excellent for fall.

2. What mood or atmosphere do you want to create?

Stunning colours like royal blue, scarlet and gold are great for showy affairs. Chocolate brown, pink and coral tend to work for smaller weddings that take on a unique flair. Green is good for an energetic feel, as well as an environmentally conscious wedding.

3. What type of theme are you looking to create?

The classic of weddings is diamond white, traditional and suited to both elaborate and minimalist weddings. Black is a sophisticated colour that makes for sharp, elegant designs that call attention to detail with spots of colour. Some other colours that add a touch of sophistication are gray, silver and champagne – the former with a modern feel, and the latter adding a vintage vibe, refined and rich.

Tip: Try to limit your main colours to three maximum to ensure your colours stay consistent and eye-catching. A little bit of colour goes a long way. Wow your guests with touches of colour in unexpected places like place cards and favours.

Popular Baby Shower Games

Baby showers are a great way to celebrate the soon arrival of a bundle of joy. Your baby shower guests will be sure to enjoy the day with some fun and interactive games. Occasion Giftware would like to give a ‘thumbs up’ to these popular baby shower games:

How Big Is Her Belly?
All the guests are given a length of string or yarn and are asked to cut a size that they guess will fit around the pregnant mother’s stomach. The one closest to the correct length will win a prize.

What’s in the Bag?
Several baby products are put in a paper bag and passed along. The guests must feel the bag and guess the contents. The one who has the most correct guesses wins the products. Add some creative ideas like baby food, baby powder, diapers, teething ring, syringe, etc.

Changing Baby and Distractions
A particularly fun game is to hold an interactive game with a life-size baby doll. The guests take turns powdering and changing the doll’s diaper, while the others are given instructions on distraction items to call out such as a doorbell ringing or food burning in the oven. The guest who can undress the baby, change her diaper and re-dress her in the shortest amount of time, wins.

Clothes Pins
Every guest is given a clothes pin. Whenever someone says “Baby”, the first to catch it gets their clothes pin. The winner at the end of the party is the one who has the most pins. This game promotes creative and inventive ways of talking without using “Baby”.

Matching Socks
Purchase a bunch of baby socks and throw them all into a box. Ask for a few volunteers to participate in this game one at a time. Have each participating guest match all socks while timing them. The person that matches all the socks in the shortest amount of time wins.

Preparation for a First Holy Communion

The Sacrament of Holy Communion is an important event for Christians, and the First Communion is an extremely significant occasion when a child first eats the holy bread that symbolizes the body of Christ. A child usually takes the First Communion when they are about seven or eight years old. The celebration typically consists of a mass followed by a family celebration. Children are dressed in white, to symbolize purity, and girls often wear veils and long or short gloves. The meaning of Communion can also symbolize a meal in remembrance of the Last Supper. The First Communion is a major rite of passage in the Catholic Church and one of the seven Sacraments. It is considered one of the holiest and most important occasions in a Roman Catholic’s life.

The First Holy Communion is a very important family event. The reception or party afterwards is a way to bring the family together in congratulation of the girl or boy. As such, it is customary to give gifts to both the child receiving their first communion and the guests attending the celebration. Occasion Giftware offers some fabulous keepsake gifts for your child. Click here to see some communion gift ideas. Some functional guest favours include photo frames, rosaries, or cross keychains. Occasion Giftware would like to congratulate the children receiving their first Holy Communion as they become one with Christ and share in His eternal life.

DIY Centerpiece Using Ostrich Feathers

Save money and express yourself with a Do It Yourself project and create your own ostrich feather centerpiece!

One of the up and coming trends are ostrich feather centerpieces…and it’s easy to see why. The feathers are elegant and provide a classy ambiance to the party. There are generally two types of feathers used for centerpieces – the femina feathers, which are large with wide plumes, and the drab ones, which are slightly smaller and narrow in comparison.

For a centerpiece, you also need a large vase to hold them. To create a palm tree effect, you could tie the feathers stems together with wire before putting them in the vase, but the possibilities for these elegant centerpieces are limitless. The femina feathers are more suited towards a palm tree or fern-like centerpiece, while the drab feathers, being considerably fluffier, are perfect as accents for a bouquet or to form a wreath.

A common question is, ‘How many ostrich feathers should I order for each vase?’ The beauty of a do it yourself project is you can make the centerpiece as simple or as grand as you’d like. A standard ostrich feather centerpiece can look spectacular with as few as 13 ostrich feathers. After you choose your preferred colour and vase base, you are ready to start designing your centerpiece. We recommend starting by putting the ostrich feather quill ends into bouquet holders starting from the bottom and moving around the holder in a circular motion, in an upward direction. Try to keep the larger feathers towards the bottom and the smaller ones nearer to the top. The desired look of an ostrich feather centerpiece is to have them soft and droopy so be patient if they seem a little straight at first as it may take a couple of days for them to droop.

Occasion Giftware offers 13 colors to choose from to help you match the theme of your event. Some colors include white, black, red, green, burgundy, pink, blue, grey and more. Click here for more information: http://www.occasiongiftware.ca/ostrich-feathers-feather-centerpieces

Looking For an Organic or Eco-Friendly Green Favour?

In this age of information and all the environmental issues that we are faced with, one topic on our minds is the state of our world. Many of us are becoming conscious of the damage done to our environment and are always looking for environmentally friendly solutions to go ‘green’.

“Green” weddings will have less of an impact on the world by using eco-friendly products and are rising in popularity. Of course, when you have an environmentally conscious wedding, it would suit to fit the theme with some eco-friendly favours.

Some useful favours are environmentally friendly gift bags and boxes, and a specific innovative favour is a herb kit.. The herb kits come with a terracotta planter, peat pellets, and the necessary seeds. The seeds are grown from Ontario farmers and the attractive packaging is made of a recycled cardboard. Herbs are not only useful to use for cooking, but smell great, providing you with an aromatic garden that can be harvested to add a touch of flavour to your food. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use.

Your party guests will be sure to appreciate that personal and practical favour. Some of the organic herb flavours include dill, rosemary, thyme, parsley, sage, basil and more. Use a catchy slogan with any of the herb kits such as, “It’s about THYME that we tied the knot!” Herb planters promote good health and provide a unique experience. Also ideal gifts for corporate events, birthday gifts and more.

Give your guests a plantable, stylish, and eco-friendly wedding favour.

Wedding favours often serve two functions – thanking guests for attending your special event and making a statement about the couple. A herb kit green wedding favour is a great way to create lasting memories.

Click here to see the selection of herb kits: http://www.occasiongiftware.ca/organic-indoor-herb-kits/organic-indoor-herb-garden.Organic Parsley Herb Garden

Wine Bottle Stoppers – A Great Idea for a Wedding Favour

Looking for a practical guest favour for your wedding or other special event? Bottle stoppers are a great choice, especially for those connoisseurs of wine! Wine stoppers can be purchased in many designs to match the theme of your event. Some innovative theme ideas include: flip flop destination or outdoor wedding, winter wonderland, perfect catch fish, fall leaf, cross, love birds, high heel shoe, and more. They are also available in round stoppers with cute or funny messages on them. Wrap the boxes in the colour scheme of your event and voila…a party favour that not only matches your theme, but that that will be appreciated by all!

Bottle stoppers follow the trend of functional and innovative wedding guest favour gifts. Place on the reception receiving line or at the table settings in the hall. Not only are they creative and interesting keepsakes, but they are also a practical gift that your guests will be sure to use.

Jordan Almonds: An Explanation

Jordan Almonds

Jordan almonds, also known as sugared almonds, confetti, dragées, or koufetta, are a type of sweet treat confectionery consisting of almonds covered with a candy coating.

Sometimes, the almonds are colour coded for specific events: green for engagements, white for weddings, silver for anniversaries, red for graduations, and blue or pink for baby showers, christenings or baptisms. They are generally either placed in bowls, or packed in organza bags, tulle, or small boxes.

The countries with the most renowned traditions of using Jordan almonds are Greece, Italy and the Middle East, though the treats are becoming rapidly popular in other countries including Canada and the USA.

Italian Weddings:

In Italy, five almonds (confetti) are always given to the bride and groom. Each almond represents a wish for the lucky couple: health, happiness, fertility, financial stability and a long life. It is customary that the little sugar-coated candies present at every important occasion in Italian life.

Greek Weddings:

In Greece, the almonds (koufetta or dragées) are always given out in odd numbers to convey that they will share everything and remain undivided. Traditionally, an unmarried woman will place an almond under her pillow and expect to dream of her future husband.

Middle Eastern Weddings:

In the Middle East, the almonds are considered aphrodisiacs, and are available for both guests and newlyweds at wedding receptions. All of the traditions agree that the almonds themselves are bitter, but the coating is sweet, which is a hope that the life of the newlyweds will too be more sweet than bitter.

It is also customary to attach a little card or note with the almonds to explain the meaning to your guests.

Sample poem:

Jordan Almonds For Thee

Five sugared almonds for each guest to eat

To remind us that life is both bitter and sweet.

Five wishes for the new husband and wife,

Health, wealth, happiness, children and a long life!

The true start of Jordan Almonds was in the 15^th Century, when the sugarcane was introduced to Europe. During important marriages, such as the wedding of Lucrezia Borgia to the Duke of Ferrara, enough of the candied almonds were laid out at the banquet for all the guests to eat approximately 260 pounds.