Sunday, December 2, 2012
The Christmas holiday season brings with it an amazing combination of tradition, spirituality and consumerism. No other holiday season is embraced by such a diverse cross section of the public and, as a result, controversy surrounding the holiday is bound to make local headlines during the season. Often, the grumbling has to do with how ‘adult’ Christmas has become. Traditionally, Christmas and the entire holiday season has been treated with a kind of childlike wonder. Card companies and retailers would play up the images of the ‘Good Old Days’ and most decorations and themes revolved around a Normal Rockwell kind of Americana. Families gathered around a golden brown turkey, children cuddled on a couch playing with toys, dogs lounging by a fire. But, as society has evolved so, too, has the way we think about these holidays. These views typically poked fun at the traditional scene and instead focused on themes of families fighting over the last drumstick, children wailing because their batteries have worn out already and dogs rifling through the holiday kitchen garbage in the middle of the night.
The Vision vs. The Reality
The truth is that this ability to embrace the holiday season with a ‘warts and all’ attitude can go a long way in making people feel better about their own crazy families. When cards, decorations and the like all focused on the idealized family holiday, it drove some revelers straight over the edge. But the 90s brought with it a relaxation of these ideals, a point driven home every year on the national scale with the popularity of family shows like Married with Children and Roseanne, which featured episodes focused on the family drama and stress associated with the entire holiday season.
The Cards You Might Not Send to Grandma
This relaxed and more open attitude can be seen in a variety of holiday decorations and shows but, by and large, the easiest way to see it is by checking out modern Christmas and Holiday cards. Initially, the market branched out simply to include other religious, spiritual or cultural holidays and, since then, has branched out even further. From Kwanzaa to Festivus, every conceivable holiday is now covered by a selection of greeting cards. On the other end of the spectrum, there are cards featuring rude and crude cartoons, scientific explanations to disprove Santa and, of course, a host of cards which celebrate the FUN in dysfunction.
This progression towards the inclusion of adult themed and more tongue in cheek holiday greetings work not to divide the holidays, but to actually bring them closer together. The winter holiday season appeals to a wide variety of people across social, religious and economic backgrounds. As a result, the things we all use to celebrate the holidays—from home decorations to greeting cards—have expanded to reflect everyone who celebrates the season in their own way. The wide array of new holiday cards also gives people the chance to really customize their own celebration of the holidays. After all, you might not send the South Park Mr. Hanky the Christmas Poo card or the Festivus card to your Grandma, but it’ll do nicely for the best friend who sends out a card declaring ‘The Grinch Had it Right the First Time’.
Posted in Washington DC Event Resources
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Holiday greeting cards are often most closely associated with Christmas. While this may have been true in decades of the past, the fact is that now holiday cards come for just about any winter holiday or festival you can think of. With a range of options including both religious and pop-culture influence, there’s a holiday card for absolutely everyone.
The Perfect Holiday Card
There’s no denying a certain religious bent to many different holiday cards. From Hanukkah to Christmas with plenty of room for Kwanzaa, Diwali and other winter holidays. Although Christian and Jewish holidays may be well known, other religions hold end of the year celebrations. In order to reflect each of these holidays we offer a wide selection of card and letterpress designs which play on both the religious and cultural themes associated with them. These days of observance stretch beyond traditional organized religion and also play into cultural and even astronomical occurrences. Winter brings with it the Winter Solstice, which has been celebrated by ancient cultures and is still celebrated by people today.
But in order to remain truly modern and relevant, cards have also grown to encompass pop-culture holidays, including the infamous Festivus. Originally introduced on Seinfeld in 1997, the anti-holiday was adopted almost instantly by Seinfeld fans and has since grown into a worldwide movement. Card makers routinely offer special Festivus cards in spite of the holiday’s tongue in cheek rules regarding the trappings of typical holidays.
Show You Care with the Right Holiday Card
Holidays aside, cards have simply opened themselves up as a way to embrace the feeling of the entire holiday season. The holidays have come to mean more than any one specific day. As the calender begins to come to its end, we all get that urge to stop and move a little slower, to be a little nicer and to, in short, get into the holiday spirit, whatever that means to us personally. The holidays have expanded and evolved to be more inclusive and holiday greeting cards have followed suit. Even for those who simply want to celebrate the season as a whole, holiday cards have it covered. Cards that celebrate the season as whole make it even easier for people to stay in touch and the levity they bring to the season adds a bit of humor, which is welcomed anywhere.
Society has embraced Christmas as more than just a religious holiday. No other holiday enjoys the secular crossover Christmas does and, as a result, the entire holiday season takes on a warm and unifying glow. The end of the year brings out a surge of nostalgia in all of us and it’s natural to want to reach out and make contact with our family and friends. Luckily, holiday cards have evolved and adapted to meet the need while lightening the mood. So, get in the spirit and share your love of Yuletide Christmas Festival Sweater Day on December 22nd and Wren Day on the 26th, in addition to the more traditional holidays. (Insert your grandmother’s voice here…) Would it kill you to send a card?
Posted in Washington DC Event Resources
Friday, November 16, 2012
Thanks, in large part, to the Royal Wedding in 2011, wedding trends took a glamorous turn in 2012. With thoughtful themes and extreme attention to detail, there have been some seriously stunning weddings this year. From sparkly accents and faux fur shrugs to chic candle holders and big and lush bouquets, 2012 took back the extravagant wedding. And, it should be taken into consideration the brilliant people and teams who came up with the grandest designs and plans behind this year’s most luxurious weddings.
Designing and Creating a Luxury Wedding
While DIY weddings are quickly becoming a trend of their own, there’s still something amazing to be said for the professionally planned, classic, elegant ceremony and reception. It takes a creative mind to come up with the perfect wedding theme to unite and fit a couple’s specific tastes and needs and on such a special day, quality should not be compromised. But, it may not be so easy to find the perfect wedding planner to create the luxury wedding of your dreams.
It is important to do the research before you set out on the perfect wedding planner search. Hiring a wedding planner with in depth knowledge of the latest luxury wedding styles and trends will help guarantee you get your dream wedding. If it is a luxury wedding you’re after, you will want only the best in the industry; don’t take the chance and settle for an inexperienced wedding planner that promises great things, you may end up disappointed. Be sure to take a look at their portfolio and decide if what they offer is right for you.
The Best Wedding Planners
This year’s most sought after wedding planners have gone above and beyond in uniqueness and creativity, designing and delivering awe inspiring and gorgeous gowns, centerpieces, venues, invitations and events. They are considered among the most up to date on the industry’s latest trends and will no doubt enter 2013 with envelope-pushing wedding ideas that will start new fashion and design trends.
While there are many wedding planners who are making a name for themselves in Washington DC and beyond, there are a handful who excel in the luxury wedding category. Listed below is a short list of some of the most creative and best in the luxury and celebrity wedding and event planning industry. These stylists, designers and party planners offer unique and forward-thinking concepts that will wow guests and make any bride and groom feel like royalty. Each website provides an extensive portfolio or photo gallery displaying the real weddings the planners have pulled off. Their innovation and creativity shows they are not afraid to take risks, which ultimately produces the most stunning and memorable weddings. If you want your wedding to be the event of the year, your first step should be consulting with a luxury wedding planner like the ones listed here.
Colin Cowie Weddings
Todd Events
Marcy Blum
Mindy Weiss
Ed Libby & Company
Sharon Sacks Productions
David Beahm
Posted in Wedding Resources
