Happy Holidays from Christina Marie Events!!!

In the spirit of the Holiday Season CME is offering a discount of $150 off all planning packages and $75 off the Day of Coordination package.

We will also include a set of personalized toasting flutes FREE!!

Contact us today to build a package that suits your Wedding planning needs. info@cmaries.com 952-233-1813
***Signed contract & deposit must be received by December 31st, 2008 to qualify for these specials.

Christina Marie Event's wishes you and your family a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!!

A BIG THANKS!!!

It never fails this time of year always sneaks up on us and the next thing you know it is almost the New Year. The holidays come especially fast when you are wrapping up a very busy wedding season like this fall. It appears more and more of today's couples are choosing the September/October wedding than the July/August wedding.

As this year comes to a close there is so much that Christina Marie Event's is Thankful for. We are growing at a very exciting rate, CME doubled it's Weddings this year and has also added a few helpful services for all our couples to benefit from, such as Centerpiece Rentals, Candy Cafe Rentals, and Linens. CME is grateful for the wonderful couples and vendors we worked with and along side this past year. It is always such a pleasure to meet new couples and hear about their exciting ideas and vision for the Big Day.

There are also some truly talented and wonderful vendors out there that help make your special day come together and perfect. We worked with many of our preferred vendors we already know, but also had the opportunity to meet many new and great vendors that are awesome!! Our vendor library has multiplied in the last year to offer our couples confident options for all their Wedding Planning needs. We have several new & exciting ideas and plans for the 2009 year and are extremely eager to share them all with you!!

Thank you to all of our amazing couples we worked with in 2008 and the extraordinary vendors that are as enthusiastic & dedicated as Christina Marie Events is in making the Bride & Groom's Wedding Day so Distinctive!!

Heidi & Keith, October 11th, 2008

Absolutely Stunning!!! That is how I would describe this wedding. Heidi & Keith are so extremely fortunate to have had the beautiful day they did for their Oct 11th outdoor wedding. The trees were in their peak and the temperature was perfect. I started working with the two of them over a year ago on the vision of a wedding that was full of nature, warmth, and that was truly exceptional. We definitely achieved this with the tranquil garden, sugar spun cake, and a head table glistening with crystal trees and satin linens. They were such a fun couple to be around, their ideas were open and creative and it was well displayed on Saturday! The colors were immaculate, their friends & family knew how to party, the Ceremony location serene and the reception so elegant. This was such a Beautiful day and I am so grateful that Heidi & Keith had me apart of it!!

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs Brenner (and Buckley B), please keep in touch!!


I will post more pictures as I get them, these are from my camera!!

Open Dates for 2008

As I review my calender for the remainder of the year I have the following weekends still open for Day of Coordination. Contact me today if you are looking for some assistance at your Event!

November 22nd, 2008
December 6th, 2008
December 13th, 2008

The Economy & Weddings

I was recently interviewed by the Star Tribune on how the economy is affecting the wedding industry. It got me thinking a lot about the state we are in and how it will affect the newly engaged or those in the middle of planning!

The biggest thing I have seen in the last couple month's are couples who are very budget conscious and that are reallocating where they are spending their money or cutting things out completely. I think now more than ever it is so beneficial to have a Wedding Coordinator to help you find the most for you money, cut back on costs and help keep you with in your budget. Some see hiring a wedding planner as an extra expense when in all reality the expertise and knowledge that we have on the industry and the vendors that are out there you can actually reduce your costs.

So much time is spent researching venues, vendors, decorations, invitations, etc and comparing them to figure out who is offering what and what seems like the better deal. A good coordinator will get to know you, your style, vision and budget and should have a handful of recommendations that fits all of these topics. This results in you not paying more than you planned on or end up with a vendor because it is convenient and you are going cross eyed trying to decide between them....

As the uncertainty of the economy is upon us there are still celebrations to be had and to their fullest. Planning a wedding you have always dreamed of does not have to change based on the economy and rising prices. There are many ways to still incorporate your vision and dreams without having to shell out all the dollars.

I would love to hear from you!! How are you being affected? Are you worried your planning or wedding will be? What are you doing to side step some of the high costs? Let is know if you are in the process of planning your wedding, just getting started or are already married. Feel free to email me at info@cmaries.com
Subject: Economy and Weddings.

Don't stress, you can still spend less and have a phenomenal wedding!! (especially with the help of a wedding planner)

Mel & Linny September 20th, 2008

Wow was this group too much fun!! There were Bridal party members, family and friends from all corners of the Country. I had a blast with you guys! I met Mel and Linny over a year ago when they signed up for a full Planning package and I enjoyed every minute of planning with them. The ideas were endless and when it all came together a few weeks ago it was such a special day with lots of laughs and smiles. The pink and black was splashed everywhere and gave the room and detail such a loving feel. Highlight of the day was trying to round up the Wedding party for their Grand March and looking out the window to see a bridesmaid digging in the pond with her hair in the water..... don't worry the Bride's shoe was recovered. This bridesmaid sure did know how to live up to her duties and then some!

I had a blast with you ladies up to the end!! Mel - I may have to call your Dad and hire him as an assistant = )

Congratulations Mel & Linny

More pictures will be posted soon!! Stop back!

Ruth & Rick August 23rd, 2008

The weather was perfect, the wedding party a ton of fun, and the couple in love and ready to be married!! And who would have guessed we had to switch their Reception location 5 weeks out from their Wedding date. With the Jeune Lune announcing its decision to close the doors, the uncertainty of service and quality was too great of risk to take on such an important day! To our surprise Hazeltine golf course had it's doors still open for their August 23rd date! I think Ruth & Rick would agree with me that their Ceremony and Reception were exceptional at this pristine location and I doubt they even thought once that day about where it should have been!!

Congratulations again Ruth & Rick, I enjoyed your wedding, friends and family so much!

PS. Those cakes were Awesome!

Kristen & Dan - July 19, 2008

I had a blast at this wedding and working with such a fun laid back couple!! I first met Kristen and Dan about 7 months out from their wedding!! Both of their families were wonderful and knew how to have a good time. Their ceremony was at a very neat church in Minneapolis and their reception at the Nicollet Island Pavilion. I love this spot for Summer and Fall weddings right on the river and it gives your guests so many areas to mingle inside and out. Kristen was an absolutely stunning bride!


Congratulations Kristen and Dan, I hope your first few months of Marriage have been exceptional. Keep in touch = )









Photography by: Stephen Geffre

Destination - Riviera Maya, MX January 18th, 2008

Mya & Joel - January 18th, 2009

This was such a exciting wedding to be apart of and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to spend it down there with them. It was not only being on the beach of Mexico in sunny warm weather in January but to see two people so in love and that show so much compassion for each other that made this Wedding one of a kind.

The Ceremony took place at the Oasis resort in the Riviera Maya on the roof over looking the ocean. The scenery was breathe taking as some dark storm clouds were coming in off the ocean, the colors were magnificent and the weather was great. The rain held off all day until the party moved inside for their dinner and dance. The food was delicious and the entire group of 40+ all had a blast together. The bonding that happens amongst you and your guest while traveling makes destination weddings so intimate.

The destination wedding is such a neat way to express your style and creativity. Most destinations have multiple options for packages that make it easier for your guests to decide what works for them. Typically you can offer 3, 5, 7 and 10 day packages that allows your guests to plan properly. Make sure if you are planning a destination wedding that you try to allow at least a year for your guests to start making arrangements. Get those save the date out there early so they know what dates to ask off from work, find sitters, and start saving for your Destination Wedding! Cmaries does offer Destination planning services that help make planning from a distant easier, if interested please inquire about our package!

Thank you Mya and Joey for asking me to be apart of your very Special day!!

Ceremony site on the roof!

The Blogger's World

Welcome to Christina Marie Events Blog. This has been on my to do list since Spring, the only barrier was I was so busy working with Weddings and some social events that my time was stretched thin. So here I am breaking into the blogging world. I hope to make it a common practice to get on here as much as possible and let future clients or newly engaged couples know what's new in the Wedding industry, fill you in on my recent work and share any insight or stories I may have that day!!

When 2008 started I had made a commitment to myself to only allow so many Events this year as my Husband returned home from Iraq after a 22 month deployment. Being that most events happen on the weekend I wanted to make sure I had some "QT" time with the hubby! Now that the year is almost coming to a close I look back and think what happened to this year already. Oh that's right I took on more events and weddings than had intended as I LOVE doing this so much it was hard to say "No" when a bride would call and want to tell me about her wedding and all the fun plans & visions she had. As well as the excitement of being a part of a social event or in the fast pace lane of the corporate event planning.

Planning Weddings & Events is truly my passion and I am extremely fortunate to be doing my dream job day in and day out. I am a very thankful person for all the joy in my life! I decided since I could be here for days writing about all of the wonderful people I have worked with this past year, I would show case some of my most memorable Weddings and Events this year and then make a commitment to be as regular on my postings as possible.

Now on to the fun stuff... All of my packages are customized around my clients needs, mainly because I have yet to see 2 brides come to me and want the same amount of service or have the same budget. I offer a complimentary Consultation in person or via phone to come up with a planning package together that makes sense for you. Feel free to contact me with more questions or to see what type of package we can get started on for you. 952-233-1813 info@cmaries.com


Please come back often as I plan to update this as much as possible!! Welcome to Cmaries official blog = )

Christina Anderson
Owner