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Listen up, everyone! It’s giveaway time and this time it’s BIG! We have a fantabulous (not a real word, I know) wedding giveaway being provided by some of the best wedding vendors in North Florida. Not only are these vendors some of the best, but they are also have big hearts and love giving back.

With that said, this contest is not like any other. Here’s the scoop:

We’re looking for a couple that has a story to tell. It could be a hardship they’ve been through and conquered, or one they’re currently facing….we want to hear their story. And we want them, a family member or a friend to tell us why they feel we deserve to win. However, it DOESN’T have to be a story of tough times to win the contest – it can also be inspirational!

And the guidelines:

• The couple, a family member, or friend of the couple, must submit a written story via email to contact@jeanmoree.com of why they feel they deserve to win.
• The submission must include a picture of the couple for us to use when we announce the winner.
• The couple must be getting married in the Jacksonville, Florida area
• The wedding date must be available (certain dates may be unavailable due to already scheduled events) and not already booked by the wonderful vendors in this giveaway OR your date is flexible.
• The couple must be willing to allow us to put their story on our blog as we announce the winner.
• The submission must be TRUE. Remember, we are looking for couples who have overcome great odds or are otherwise deserving of free wedding services. This contest IS NOT for people who can afford a photographer, and just want to win something free.

The winner will be selected by vote amongst the vendors you see below. All submissions must be received by August 15^th September 15th. The winner will be announced and contacted August 22^nd September 22nd.  WE’VE EXTENDED THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE DUE TO THE GREAT RESPONSE!

Hurry now and get your submission in today!

The winner receives………..(more vendors coming soon )

Selva Marina Country Club has graciously donated their facility which include tables, chairs, linens, silver and glassware, dance floor fee, room fee, carver fee and bartender fee. They will also provide a carving station of Top Round along with 3 servers for the Wedding Giveaway!  This is valued at $2,000.00!  Check out their website www.selvamarina.com

Jean Moree Photography will be giving the couple lasting memories by providing free wedding photography on their wedding day AND a free engagement session with a disc of full-edited images, valued at $1400.00. Jean Moree Photography is one of Jacksonville’s quality wedding photography companies. She prides herself on her friendly customer service, easy-going personality, and ability to stay calm in stressful environments. She also provides high-quality, exclusive albums and unique, stylish products that are not commonly offered to brides. Learn more about Jean at www.JeanMoree.com

Tabbatha Ronnekamp will be generously providing her Big Day Package of wedding planning services, valued at $600.00, which includes getting to know the bride, creating a wedding day time line, wedding day coordination & MORE! Tabbatha is the owner of The Wedding Assistant, a fully licensed and insured wedding planning business. She is fun, easy to talk to, very organized, reliable, and an asset to anyone getting married. You can learn more about Tabbatha at www.weddingdayassistant.com

Tina Payne, of Weddings by Tina, will be providing her Basic Reception Décor Package (value ranging from $850 to $3300). This comprehensive package includes white linen tablecloth rental, tablecloth overlay, white linen chair covers, elegant centerpieces, toasting glasses for bride and groom, cake knife and server, cake stand, and more! Learn more about Tina at weddingsbytina.com

Kimtasha, professional makeup artist and winner of “The Best of Jacksonville 2009,” will be providing a complimentary on-location make-up application for the bride on the wedding day. This is valued between $185.00 – $205.00. She has more than 13 years of experience and a variety of tools and products for all skin tones and types. Kimtasha began her career with MAC Cosmetics and has had the privilege of working with actress Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon and has assisted celebrity make-up artist Sam Fine. Learn more about Kimtasha at www.kimtasha.com

Stephanie Duncan Schwartz will be providing a free hair makeover (cut, color, style, and finish) for the bride. She is a graduate of Paul Mitchell the School-Orlando. She currently serves as the Design Team and Placement Leader at Paul Mitchell the School-Jacksonville. She was an active member of the Design Team and had the opportunity to work behind the scenes in the hair and make up department of The Orlando Opera as well as a Walt Disney music video. Today, she shares her passion for the Paul Mitchell the School culture with Future Professionals through providing specialty classes on styling and make up as well as through coordinating events such as pageants, fashion shows, photo shoots, presentations, and trade shows. You can learn more about Paul Mitchell the School-Jacksonville at http://school.paulmitchell.edu/jacksonville-fl

Trisha of Metro Custom Cakes, will be donating a wedding cake to the winning couple. They have been in the cake business for 6 years and specialize in custom designed wedding cakes and sculpted cakes. The wedding cake package includes a 4-tiered wedding cake designed to reflect the couple’s personal style and wedding theme, valued at $650 – $800. Metro Custom Cakes was recently voted by Jacksonville Bride Magazine as “Best Wedding Cakes in Jacksonville” for 2010. Learn more about them at www.metrocustomcakes.com

Event Sound will be providing 4 hours of entertainment, hosting, and disco lighting, valued at $650 to $800. Event Sound was founded by Chadwick Sorensen and Jeremy Spellman.  The company specializes in providing top notch customer service and entertainment needs for all occasions. They are based out of Jacksonville, FL and are a family based business. Understanding that planning a party/wedding can overwhelming, Event Sound prides it self in making the planning stages extremely easy. So sit back and relax and let Event Sound turn your party into and Event! Check them out at www.eventsoundentertainment.com

Amanda Randall Designs, a new company with an experienced owner, will be providing hand-made custom wedding invitations, menu cards, table number cards, programs, place cards, thank you cards, and seating chart.  This includes one design meeting, one proof meeting, and the hand-made invitations, menu cards, etc, valued at $1200.00

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*Session in North Florida area.

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OK…many of you may have already watched this video, but I saw it for the first time this evening.  The video is touching, emotional, and powerful in its message.  It literally made me teary.  I encourage you to watch it.  I’m not saying what it is about before you watch it…it may ruin the powerful moment.

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We are entering all of our child portraits into the Miller’s 2010 Baby & Child Contest, one of our high-quality print and product companies.  Categories for this year’s contest include: Color, Black & White/Sepia, Special Needs, and Humorous.

First, Second, and Third places, as well as two Honorable Mentions, will be announced for each category!  Cash prizes for these winners include $2,000 for First, $1,000 for Second, $750 for Third, and $500 for each Honorable Mention.  One portrait from the Final Round will also receive the highest of accolades — Grand Prize Winner.  The cash prize will be $5,000 for this lucky winner!

All cash prizes will be given to the families of the winning portraits.

So, for this special events, we are reducing our portrait price from $200 per session to $100 per session with a disc!

You can’t lose!  You get awesome portraits of your child with a disc of images for 50% off the regular price PLUS a chance to win a cash prize!

Call us today to set up your session.  (904) 339-9475 or send us a quick email up above.

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Just a peek at one of the many things offered to my clients!

The guest book is usually a hit at receptions.  It’s like an album showcasing the engagement photos.  Never again will couples stash their boring guestbook away never to be seen again! These pages are thick, lay-flat pages – not thin, cheap magazine-style pages that bend and crease.  Now you’ll have a reason to get it out and take a peek AFTER your wedding.

Also, ALL of my clients get a custom case for their disc.  Wedding discs come in a custom fabric case (not shown).  Engagement and other portrait sessions come in a custom photo case with magnetic closure.  This particular case cover was printed on metallic paper…giving it a high-impact look and depth.  The photo does not do it justice.

Interested in what we can offer you?  Schedule your FREE consultation!

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I met up with Joanna this past Sunday for a fun photo session.  Here’s a few…but you can see the entire gallery at http://www.jeanmoree.com/customerproofs/joanna/

Not too long ago, I was shown a video of an elephant painting (see the second video I have posted here).  This video was extremely moving and I felt the desire to get more information.

My search brought me to Exotic World Gifts.  They sell gifts, jewelry, and home decor while they are supporting a cause.  Not only do they seek out people in villages around the world who make jewelry and other beautiful items to sell (to help them sell their items so they can support their families), but they support Fair Trade practices and provide Fair Trade wages to the artists, provide good working conditions and no child labor. In addition to fair wages, they also contribute to humanitarian projects that directly help the people.  Depending on the cost of the labor, materials, import/export fees, tariffs, and necessary expenses, 25% to 50% of the selling price of each item is given to the artist and related humanitarian projects.

Their mission is to empower consumers to connect with small scale artisans around the world and by purchasing their products through ExoticWorldGifts.com to participate in providing them with sustainable income.

In fact, in reading about them on their website, I ran across an article about a group of women artisans in the Himalayan mountains in India who were victims of child marriage, but rescued and now living in the Short Stay Home ran by the cooperative.  They earn a living by making jewelry and other items and are learning weaving, cutting, tailoring, etc.

While the founders of Exotic World Gifts were seeking out new artisans, they came across a refuge camp for elephants in Northern Thailand and not only witnessed, but videotaped, an elephant painting.  The camp is Maetaman Elephant Camp in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  You can purchase prints of these paintings as well.  Their goal is to raise money not only for the artisans to support themselves, but to help conservation efforts in these developing countries.

From their website:

There are a select group of elephants who have artistic talent and are easily engaged in painting. The Mahouts and owners of the Conservation camps get a good indicator when elephants are not interested in painting – as they eat their paint brush and other things. Elephants who are not interested in painting – don’t paint. The elephant art that we represent is done by talented elephants who are well cared for. The elephants seem pleased with the applause of the audience and of course the bundles of sugarcane and bananas after the paintings are completed. The painting process actually provides needed stimulation for the elephants.

As part of the training process, the trainer shows the elephant basic brush strokes. The trainer loads the brush with the desired color and the elephant proceeds to make the learned stroke. Each piece of art is unique as the elephant has total control of the brush.

Hong is 7 years old and she has been painting for 4 years.

Hong moved from Surin Province (Northeast Thailand)
to Maetaman Camp when she was about 2 years old
and nobody knew Hong’s parents. Hong met Noi (her mahout)
who was assigned to take care of her.
Noi was her first and only person who trained Hong to
live with humans and listen to all human communication.
Later on, Hong was trained to paint and show visitors her painting abilities.
She is the only elephant in the world who can
paint the realistic elephant with a flower or Thai flag.
Hong is able to paint a lovely elephant.

How Can Everyone Support Saving the Asian Elephant?
Please purchase elephant art through www.ExoticWorldGifts.com. Part of the money for the art is donated to two causes. When Exotic World Gifts purchases the art, some of the proceeds are used for feeding and medical care of the domesticated elephants. Part of your purchase the elephant art from www.ExoticWorldGifts.com,  is sent to the conservation project for an Artificial Insemination program in Thailand.  At least 30% of your purchase is committed to maintaining and conserving these elephants.

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When I first heard about He and She – A Wedding Story: The Book, I thought it was a great idea and so very cute for newlyweds!!  Now, there are all kinds of cool, cute stuff…check out their site at http://happyheartisland.com/

He and She – A Wedding Story: The Book makes an ideal wedding gift, engagement present or romance keepsake, which combines a heart touching story about the search for true love with an interactive wedding journal.  The story follows “He” and “She”, two simple stick figures with characters that speaks volumes, as they search for true love. It is a love story and a fairy tale written with a rhyming scheme that is reminiscent of Dr. Seuss. 52 pages make up the first section of the book, which leads directly to the interactive wedding journal.

Wanna see a preview of the book?  Click here.  Wanna buy it?  Click here.

They also have He and She Tea and Coffee Mugs.  They are adorable 11 oz ceramic cups that are designed to bring the best out of your peppermint tea, coffee, or whatever beverage you choose. Have your very own cup, but always be close to the one you love with these coordinating He and She mugs. They’re made with love to remind you of your very own He or She, as the characters appear to be touching hands. This a great gift for any couple just starting out or who have been together for years. The set is packaged in a recyclable white box that is ready to ship or wrap as a gift!  Wanna buy it?  Click here.

Save the Date Postcards!!!  Your big day is near and all of your loved ones need to know when. The He and She Save the Date Postcard is the cutest way to remind your friends and family to mark your special day off on their calendars. Write or use computer printed mailing labels to start your marriage journey off right. Made of high quality glossy white card stock.  Quantity: 20 cards per box.  Wanna buy it?  Click here.

Thank You Card for any occasion!!  There’s no better way to say thank you for any occasion you have as a couple than with a Thank You card from He and She. Class is in the details so be classy and fun by sending thank you notes for anything under the sun. Whether it’s thanks for your shower gifts, anniversary presents, or just a way to say thank you for a simple favor, this thank you card will be sure to let your friends know how much you care.  Made of high quality glossy white card stock.  Quantity: 20 cards per box. Blank inside with 20 white envelopes with our classic red foil lining.  Wanna buy it?  Click here.