Sparkling lights, happy holiday music, the soft crunch as we walk on the fresh snow covered sidewalks, I know the end of the year is drawing near. With Christmas just past and New Years Day just around the corner, I hear people talking about the goals and resolutions they are planning to set for 2018. Seems like there is always something people want to achieve or accomplish for the next year and we are no exception to this. Especially as event and wedding planners, we really do like to set out plans and lists in advance. But before we jump into 2018 and think about the changes we want to make happen, or the milestones we want to attain, I think we should first spend some time reflecting on this year.
Highlights of 2017
Year 2017… how can I even begin to sum it up in a reflection post. This year past by faster than ever before but at the same time it was so fulfilling and such a blessing for us. So many things has happened that has changed us, made us grow, and has reinforced the things we believe in. It will take too much time for us to explain everything that happened in 2017, but we do have a few highlights that we want to touch on.
Rebranding
In the middle of 2017, we officially rebranded. From Effervescence Weddings Events, we changed our name to Honour and Blessing Events and at the same time changed a bit of the visual direction of our company. It was a hard decision for us to make this change, but we have been so happy with this transformation and we know that this new company name and style is more representative of who we are and what we believe in.
Proposal
A special event this year was creating a surprise proposal for one of our clients. We had about 2 weeks to find a suitable location as well as come up with the design and concept. It was so gratifying to see the happiness on our clients’ face and to be there as they begin their next chapter of the journey together. What made this extra special is that Martha Stewart Weddings featured this proposal on their Instagram feed. Follow along as there is another exciting part about this proposal that is happening in 2018.
Portugal trip
During Fall 2017, we had the opportunity to do two wedding events in Porto, Portugal, as well as spend a few days exploring the city. It was such a honour and blessing to be able to collaborate with so many wonderful and extremely talented vendors. From the smallest details, we are in awe of how everything came together so perfectly. We had such a marvelous time on this trip and it’s so hard to put into words just how big of a part this trip played in our lives this year. We’re so glad we also had the chance to stay a few days afterwards to spend some time in the city and enjoy the food and culture. Hopefully we can go back and visit again soon!
Those are a few of the highlights from 2017, but as we are reflecting on the year, we realize it is so much more than just the things we have done or have achieved. We know that everything that happened wasn’t the result of just the two of us and our efforts. It is because behind the scenes there are so many people that have helped us and given us the opportunity to do these things. From the clients who entrust us with their most important day, to the One that has planned out everything for us before we ever dreamed of anything, everything is a precious opportunity. And as this year is drawing to a close, we want to just say thank you.
Gratitude
We want to say thank you…
To our vendor friends, thank you for taking the time to share your experience and expertise. Each of you have such wonderful talent and gift in what you do, and we are so thankful we have met or worked with you in the past year. We have learned so much from you and we are always so humbled when we hear you have recommended us to your friends or clients. Thank you for all your kindness, thoughts and encouragement through this past year.
To our family and friends, thank you for all the loving support and encouragement. For standing by us when things were not as ideal as we hoped for it to be, we are so encouraged by your support and prayers. When we achieve milestones and other things we deem as important achievement, thank you for celebrating with us, often times with even more enthusiasm than ourselves. Thank you for being with us on this journey and for giving us the comfort of knowing that we will always have you as part of our support group.
Last but not least… and I was originally wanted to write this “last” thank you as the first one, to thank You before anyone else. But I decided that I should leave it to the end because I want to end off this year with giving thanks to the most important One.
To God and our Heavenly Father, thank you for this year. As we are reflecting on this past year, it seems like the word ‘thank you’ is too small and inadequate to express our gratitude to You. For us, 2017 can be best summed up in this Bible verse, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20, NKJV) Thank you for blessing us in ways we never would have imagined and comprehend. Thank you for planning everything for us before we can even dream of it. You have given us so many things to be thankful for and we are so amazed at Your grace and love through everything. It’s hard for us to use words to fully express just how thankful we are. But more than being thankful, we want to give You all the glory, honour and praise. Because You… You Lord Jesus, is worthy of it all.
Well said Sarah, and Amen! You sisters are a blessing to us. Can’t wait to see more of the bright future He has in store for the two of you both.
Thank you for your lovely note Jasmine! We can’t wait to see what He has in store for us in 2018 and the years to come.