December, Sweet December

The Community Center all "Decked" out for the Holidays!

It has been a long, crazy, busy month here at the CCC.  Events every weekend, sometimes 2 events in one weekend - not to mention everything that we had going on during the week.  I'm spent!  And really looking forward to my week off between Christmas and New Years! 

We kicked off December with a fundraiser for CHEER - Deck the Halls - a 2 day weekend consisting of cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, silent auction items, wreath sales and day of Craft and Gift vendors selling everything you could have needed to fulfill your Christmas giving list!  It was a fun weekend and a huge success and we cannot wait to do it all again next year.  (Mark your calendar - November 30th and December 1st, 2012!) 



My grandmom with Miss Delaware at the
Deck the Halls event for CHEER


We also had the pleasure of having the Lions Club Visually Impaired Christmas Dinner, The Delaware State University Alumni Association, KSI and Maxima Radio for a variety of holiday events.  There was certainly never a dull moment and my head is still spinning from all the fun we had!! 

2012 is going to be a very exciting year - we are already booking up with weddings and events and I would LOVE to have a Civil Union (GO Delaware!!!!), so if you know anyone looking for a great space send them my way!  I am really hoping to have at least 15 voicemails when I get back from my week off from people who were engaged over the holidays - Hello boyfriends, I'm looking at you :) 

I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year!  Thank you for an amazing 2011!  I appreciate every follower, stalker and link clicker!  You're the best! 

XOXO
~Mother Henn~

A total disaster!



{The resort in Nova Scotia before the fire}





"There are wedding disasters, and then there are wedding disasters. In the first (and more typical) category, a bride or groom might botch the wedding vows or flub a dance move. But in the DEFCON 1 category, the entire wedding venue — including the food, cake, decorations, flowers and gifts — can become engulfed in flames.

That happened to Michael and Nancy Rogers, a Canadian couple who had meticulously planned their wedding at a popular seaside resort on Nova Scotia’s South Shore. On Saturday, less than an hour before the ceremony was to begin in a main lodge on the resort property, the bride-to-be learned that the lodge was on fire."  CLICK HERE to read the full story on the MSNBC website!

*We wish this resort a speedy rebuild and much luck in the coming months.*

~Caregiver Seminar this Weekend~

It has been very quiet here at the CCC this month.  We have a Caregiver Seminar coming up this weekend so I am looking forward to that.  They will be teaching techniques for structuring your day, Coping with challenges, working as a team to make a care plan and drawing on different sources of support.  This event is on Saturday, November 19th from 9:30 am - 4:00 pm.  Contact Kathy for information or if you are interested in registering for this event - 302-854-9500.

December is just around the corner and that means we are back to back booked with Christmas Parties!!  I cannot wait to have things to post again and I hope you will stick it out just a little longer with me until the fun begins again!

Kent-Sussex Quilt Show

It has been a few weeks since my last "event" post, so I'm very excited to be coming back with a great event that was held at the Community Center the weekend of October 22nd and 23rd.  The Kent-Sussex Quilt show brings hundreds of quilts from 4 guilds in two out of three counties.  I love quilts and fancy myself a (terrible) quilter.  I may not be great, but I love trying!  I had a blast walking up and down all of the rows of beautiful quilts - art!  Some were really outstanding!  I have attached a couple photos for you so that if you missed out you can still sneak a peak.  They only hold this event every 2 years and we are hoping to have them back in 2013 for the next Show! 

5 Stars!

 


Pretty Exciting afternoon!  One of my past couples gave us a 5 star rating on a webiste I haven't heard of before!  So nice to get a great review from a couple I truly loved working with!  And - never hurts to be introduced to a new wedding profile!  Thanks A&J!!!

Deck the Halls with Christmas CHEER!

This year we are trying out a bunch of new fundraising ideas!  We will be hosting a weekend long Holiday Celebration for CHEER the first weekend in December (Dec. 2nd & 3rd, 2011).  Friday night enjoy the sounds of the Back Bay Strummers and the Milford Community Band as they play all of our favorite Christmas songs - sure to get you in the spirit of the season.  Catchers will be providing heavy appetizers, mix and mingle with Miss Delaware, Marie Cahill, and bid on some amazing silent auction items!  Tickets are $20 per person - cash bar.  For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, contact Dave at 302-856-5187.

Join us again on Saturday as we try out our very first Craft & Gift Bazaar.  Get your picture with Santa & Mrs. Claus, enjoy the sounds of local entertainers and try out some delicious treats provided by CHEERs own Nutrition program.  Crafters from around the county as well as gift vendors such as Pampered Chef and Tupperware will be here making sure you cross off everyone on your holiday shopping list.  There will even be a Santas Workshop and Baked Goods area where you can find some unique items at great prices!

Vendor tables are still available at $25 for the first, $10 for each additional - limit 3 tables per vendor. 

Sussex Central Class of '81 Reunion

Last weekend we had the pleasure of hosting the Sussex Central Class of 1981 30th High School Reunion.  They had about 100 classmates attend.  Catchers provided delicious appetizers, the bar was busy and the dance floor definitely needed a rest on Sunday!  They played some pretty creative games and got everyone involved.  All in all - this was a very successful evening and we hope they will keep us in mind for their 40th!

Here are a few pictures of the room before guests arrived. 


Simple centerpieces and school colors confetti made these tables festive!





Yummy appetizers by Catchers Catering! 
They had 3 different stations and everyone mixed and mingled!




A shot of the bar - I just love it now that its been refinished!



Happy Hour...the Island Way!

What a successful event!!  Happy Hour was a celebration for CHEER marking 40 years of service to the Sussex County Community!  Heavy hors'devours by Catcher's Restaurant and Catering, Wine and Rum Runners provided by Oak Creek Wine & Spirits and Corona donated by NKS.  Miss Delaware, Marie Cahill was here to mix and mingle and MP Steel Drums played some awesome Island music throughout the night!  With over 130 people in attendance, this was a great kick-off fundraising event for the CHEER Foundation and a fantastic way to make some amazing new connections.  A special Thank You to all of our generous sponsors for helping make this event such an overwhelming success!! 

Enjoy these photos taken by CHEERs own Ken Moore! 

A&J's Perfect Fall Day!

With scattered showers in the forecast it was a touch and go day for this bride and groom. They had planned an intimate beach ceremony in Lewes followed by dinner and dancing here at the CHEER Community Center. I knew it was meant to be for them because they were married on the brides parents AND grandparents anniversary. Sure enough, the rain stopped long enough for them to say "I Do"!

A&J are so loving and they truly deserved a perfect day. With their three young children acting as Maid of Honor, Best Man and Flower Girl, this was a family affair from beginning to end. I am so happy to have been a part of their day and I wish them a life full of love and happiness!

Here are some photos from their Fall Wedding! (Second day of Fall to be exact!!) Enjoy!



The Head Table for the Bride, Groom and their family




I just loved this card box!  Perfect touch on a fall day!




Cupcakes by Cake Break in Rehoboth Beach! (SO DELICIOUS!)



Another angle on the cupcakes.  They were so tasty!



These adorable centerpieces were such a great touch! 
Really mini pumpkins adorned each table to create a true
Autumnal feel!



T&A's Purple and Gold Wedding

Another wedding for the books!  T&A celebrated on Saturday with a beautiful ceremony and reception.  They divided the banquet hall into 2 sections to create their unique event.  Flowers and candles adorned the tables and a multi-layer cake made by a friend of the bride created a grand focal point in the reception space.

Enjoy the photos!


Floral arrangements were made by a family friend




Different centerpieces created depth and drama on these tables!



Cake made by a friend of the bride - each layer was a different flavor



Head table for 18! 



S&D's Tropical Wedding - one week later!

{Disclaimer: A minor computer malfunction is the reason this post is so behind!  Enjoy!}

Thanks to Hurricane Irene we had to post-pone the reception of S&D.  They were amazing.  They were so understanding and totally willing to reschedule.  We didn't really have any other choice, so they made my life easier on what could have been the most stressful day in wedding history.  They did have their ceremony on Saturday August 27th, but chose to move it up earlier in the day to avoid what was expected to be the worst storm Delmarva had seen in years. 

We all survived Irene and were able to come together on Saturday, September 3rd to celebrate a couple I will not soon forget.  The colors were vibrant - there were palm trees, sea shells and plenty of island touches everywhere.  Not to mention the bride, groom and entire bridal party looking absolutely perfect, bright and tropical!  Even the cake and cake table looked like a tropical oasis.  Guests danced the night away and everyone, myself included, had a fantastic time.  S&D are a wonderful couple with a long and happy life ahead of them.  They got married the week of the earthquake, hurricane & tornado and if they can get through that, they can make it through anything.  So, that said, Best Wishes to S&D!  You guys rock!!

Enjoy these fantastic photos!

Menu card on fans at each place setting!



This amazing cake was the perfect touch for a tropical night of fun!




Tall vases with Beta Fish were a perfect touch!




Name cards for all of the guests in the lobby!




Chalk Boards!  The bride used adorable chalk board touches to let guests know the
buffet menu as well as mini chalk boards in the center pieces with table numbers on them!




The beer and wine bar!




Another shot of  the room!  Those palm trees were fantastic!  Guests were spotted
getting their photos under them all night!



Irene - Not a Nice Lady

So this past weekend ended a little differently then I had hoped.  We had to post-pone the wedding we had scheduled.  Our fantastic couple decided to go ahead with their church ceremony on Saturday, just moved it up a few hours.  They are now on their honeymoon and will return to celebrate their nuptials with CHEER on Saturday, September 3rd.  They were very understanding and I feel so lucky for that.  Anyway, I have nothing further to post on this other then Congratulations S&D!!!  See you Saturday!! 

T&J's Berry & Blue Ceremony & Reception

We're back at it again!  This past weekend was AWESOME!  Amazing couple with an amazing group of people behind them to celebrate.  T&J have been together for 10 years, so this ceremony and reception was something guests and the couple came together to celebrate from start to finish.  (And boy did they celebrate!!) 

I took more pictures from this one than I have in the past, but can you blame me?  They had one space set up for their ceremony and the other spaces became the reception area.  170+ guests helped to set the mood - love, laughter and fun were the theme on Saturday night!  Simple centerpieces, photos of the couple around the room and another delicious meal by Catchers helped contribute to the excitement of the evening.  A close friend of the couple doubled as the DJ and he had the entire crowd up on the dance floor all night long!  It was definitely one for the books and I am so happy to have been a part of such a special day for such a wonderful couple.  Thank you for letting me be involved!! XOXO

Enjoy these photos I took before the festivities began!



A beautiful archway created the backdrop
 for this touching ceremony




Seating for 170 guests!



Another delicious cake/cupcakes by Paula's Place for Cakes
Greenwood, DE

Calla Lilies were a perfect choice and looked amazing
on the tables and in the bouquets!



Is this a new bar?  NOPE!  It's just been re-purposed! 
Doesn't it look great?  Thanks, John!



Happy Hour -The Island Way!

It's been a quiet few weekends here at the Community Center.  We have stayed busy during the week with a few events for the Seniors - "Ask the Physical Therapist" with Joe from Tidewater and "Accessible Gardening" with the Sussex County Master Gardeners.  Both were great events with very good turn out and we will be holding both again in the coming months. 

So, to fill in a little space here this week, CHEER has a big fundraising event coming up on Wednesday, September 28th from 4pm-7pm at the Community Center in Georgetown.  Tickets are being sold at $25 per person.  We are also selling sponsorship "Birthday Candles" at $500.  Our goal is to raise $20,000 for the CHEER Foundation in order to continue offering the best services possible to the 50+ community of Sussex County.  For more information please contact Dave, his information is listed below on the ad, or stop by the CCC and see me, Stacy, to purchase your tickets!

"Holy Guestlist Batman"

One of the amazing people I have the honor of knowing is getting married next April and today on Facebook she had the best comment.  I had to post this.  It is so important to keep a positive attitude and remember why you are having a wedding.  It's all about love, laughter and happily ever after and sharing the most amazing day of your life with the most amazing people you know.  Enjoy!


       SA: "Holy guestlist batman!!!"
       "All I can say is this weddings gunna be a blast!  I know some pretty awesome people :)"

Keep up the the good work SA, and your going to have the most amazing day of your life!!! XOXO

NEXT INDOOR GARAGE SALE ANNOUNCED!

Please contact me if you would like to reserve a space!  Tables are $15 each and include an 8'x10' space, 1 table and 2 chairs.  In January we had over 400 people come in throughout the day!

S&C's Fusia, Black & White 114 degree day!

This past Saturday we celebrated the marriage of S&C, two down to earth people who handled not only the stress of throwing an amazing wedding, but also the stress of record breaking heat on their wedding day very well!  It was hot to say the least, but all guests could feel for this couple was love and excitement.  Above is a photo I took of the room (fancy panorama!) before guests arrived.  It was beautiful, elegant, and the perfect way to celebrate such a loving couple. 



Centerpieces made by family and
purchased in Lancaster, PA



The centerpieces were absolutely gorgeous, purchased in Lancaster, PA.  Each table featured either a candelabra or a smaller candle holder filled with flowers.  The bride's aunt put together the most touching slide show of photos set to a variety of country music love songs that was enjoyed by all.  The cake was a modern, delicious piece of art created, once again, by Paula's Place for Cakes.  DJ Dave Wood spun tunes that got the crowd up on the dance floor, while Catcher's catering satisfied every palate. 

Paula's Place for Cakes - Greenwood, DE



Candelabras decorated the tables to create a beautiful table-scape