Florida Bridal Show is HERE

Are you planning to be there? If not you should be considering it. It will be the Bridal Show of the season. We have WEDDING DAY giveaways. Yes, I said, "WEDDING DAY GIVEAWAY'S". We are giving away TWO Wedding Day's. So you might be asking, 'What is a wedding day giveaway include?' Let me tell you we have some 'Out of this World vendors who are putting their services in towards TWO Different Wedding Day Package Giveaways.

You could be the lucky winner of one of these packages.

So far we have the following vendors participating:

The Plant Shoppe for flowers

A`vie for Day of Coordination of Ceremony

Solutions Bridal

Solutions Entertainment

Footstone Photography

Eric Redmond for pianist

Wayne's World

TJM Photography

The Event Divas for florist

Ocala Traditions

Haile Golf and Country Club

Masterpiece Weddings

Crevasse's Florist Thornebrook

Hilton for One Night Stay

Can't wait to see you there!
~Angela

Happy 50th Anniversary to the Carlsons

Carlson's 50th Anniversary
We had the privilege of coordinating The Carlson 50th Anniversary party on August 8. It was a very special and unique event for many reasons. For starters, our client (daughter of the couple) lives in North Carolina and we did not get to meet her until one day before the event! A’vie was able to recommend vendors and her final choices included Plantation Hall at Haile for the venue, Celebrations Catering, The Plant Shoppe, Ms. Debbie’s Sugar Art, Eric Redmond as the pianist, Paul from Footstone Photography, and Professional Valet Parking Systems. As guests arrived cocktails and appetizers were served while the wedding video played on the projector screen. Yes, there was video footage of the wedding from 50 years ago! During dinner a slideshow with music played for guests- it was a huge hit! Then came the surprise…Father Tim was there to renew their wedding vows! A bouquet was brought to Mrs. Carlson and she joined her husband in front of all 85 guests to recite the vows they said 50 years ago. Then the couple danced to “Wind Beneath My Wings” which was beautifully performed by Eric. To follow suit of a wedding, the couple ceremoniously cut the beautiful three tiered cake. To honor this special couple and their huge accomplishment, the microphone was passed around to almost a dozen guests to give a toast! The beautiful flower arrangements were given by our client as gifts to several guests and vendors as well! It was a pleasure to be a part of this fantastic celebration of love and family. From all of us at A’vie: Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Carlson!~Noelle

Florida Bridal Expo Info:

THIS weekend!!!

Brides: Don't forget to bring your printed labels with your name, phone number, email and mailing address so you can enter into all the drawings without having to rewrite your name many times.

Amazing sponsors for the Expo this Sunday!!!

What is ALS?

Check out Angela's interview on TV20 TONIGHT on the 5:30pm news about Dwight's Fight Courage Walk and Dwight's Fight Against ALS Foundation.

Please also check out more information about the Courage Walk at www.dwightsfight.org

Registration opens at 8AM

What is ALS?

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neuromuscular disease that attacks motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Early symptoms include muscle weakness or stiffness. As the disease progresses, the body's muscles continue to weaken, which ultimately leads to total paralysis including the ability to speak, swallow or breathe.

Although writings describing ALS date back as far as 1869. New York Yankee great Lou Gehrig brought attention to the disease in 1939 when he retired from baseball after beinig diagnosed. He died two years later.
".....YOU HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT A BAD BREAK I GOT. YET TODAY I CONSIDER MYSELF THE LUCKIEST MAN ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH." -LOU GEHRIG, JULY 4, 1939



A letter from a very strong and courageous man:

Thank you for participating in the 2009 Courage Walk supporting Dwight's Fight Against ALS on behalf of the Gainesville Community Foundation. After my diagnosis of Lou Gherig's Disease in early 2008, my family, friends and colleagues rallied around me by providing their love, support and generosity beyond measure. From this outpouring came the formation of the charity that bears my name, yet will directly impact the lives of others in Gainesville and North Central Florida who are diagnosed with this horrific disease.

It if my hope that we can join together to spread awareness of ALS and offer tangible encouragement to the men and women of our community who battle this disease so courageously.

YOU are a key element in making the 2009 Courage Walk a success! By supporting this year's Courage Walk, your donations will be used to provide gift tote bags filled with generous offerings to ALS patients and their families upon diagnosis. It is our goal to have corporate "Partners for the Mission" help generate gift certificates that will make the journey a bit easier and manageable for these families. In addition, the Dwight's Fight Loaner Closet will make available some of the most needed and durable medical equipment (walkers, lift chairs, bath equipment, etc) upon request.

From my family to yours - thank you!

-Dwight Johnson and Friends of Dwight's Fight Against ALS

Jimmy Ho Photography

Jimmy Ho Photography is a wonderful photographer in the Gainesville area. We have a long history with Jimmy Ho. I can remember him doing some of his first weddings with our clients. Although it was years ago it seems like yesterday. When working with Jimmy you will never feel rushed or pushed to get something done. He has your best interest in mind but he isn’t pushy at all.

He has a wonderful spirit to work with. He is able to listen to what the client’s needs and wants along with being able to make those things happen. His work will show you how much he loves what he does. He takes time to meet the needs of his clients along with getting the job done.

~Angela

Jimmy came by A`vie last week to say hello and took a few photos of us working.

If you are looking for a photographer to shoot your wedding or your next event you should highly consider Jimmy Ho Photography. www.jimmyhophotography.com

Courage Walk

Supporting

Dwight's Fight Against ALS


Saturday, September 12, 2009
Registration opens at 8:00am

Haile Plantation Village Center

Check out www.dwightsfight.org

T-Shirts $10.00, Kids area $5.
Raffle and Food

5K (3.2 miles) run, walk, push, pull
family-friendly activities
Donations raised for the Gainesville ALS Community

...bringing awareness; offering encouragement
on behalf of the Gainesville Community Foundation

New Staff Photos

A`vie is changing a little bit more. We are growing again. As we grow we want you to see who we are and learn about us. So I invite you to read about us on our website and take a look at our new photos!
~Angela

What a fun time working with Rob Witzel for our staff photo shoot! It was a very hot day out, we were pushing time with sunlight and Rob snapped away. He even got a great shot of our toes! Thanks Rob for your hard work with us ladies!
~Amy

Angela on TV20

Angela was on TV20 this morning for an interview about Dwight's Fight Courage Walk and Dwight's Fight Against ALS Foundation. Check out more info at http://www.dwightsfight.org/ or to catch Angela's interview again, look for her on TV20 on September 9th at the 5:30 news.

Hunter and Brittany's Happy Wedding Day

What a joy this couple was to work with! There was not a meeting in the planning process or the weekend of their wedding that I did not see a smile on Brittany and Hunters faces. The happiness of this couple was shown in so many things throughout their event!

One of the songs the Bride and Groom requested to be played by Eric Redmond on piano during their ceremony was “All of My Love” by Led Zeppelin. I was very excited to hear this song on piano. What a great job Eric did! The couple loved it and Eric said he would like to use it for other couples now too.

Not only did the couple have a great time, but the bridesmaids and groomsmen were so helpful along the way. The Maid of honor did all of the girls’ hair the morning of the wedding as she is a hair stylist in North Carolina, and the bride had a friend who is a professional make-up artist who made all the girls look so beautiful. Every time I turned around there was someone helping. See the joy in all of their faces when you view the photos by Rob Witzel Photography below.

Congratulations Hunter and Brittany!! It was a joy to work with you!
~Amy

2009 Courage Walk Supporting Dwight's Fight Against ALS

Every now and then there comes along a really great event that is supporting a great cause. The 2009 Courage Walk supporting Dwight’s Fight Against ALS is among them! This family-friendly 5K walk presented on behalf of the Gainesville Community Foundation will be held on Saturday September 12th, 9AM-1PM at Haile Plantation Village Center and you do not want to miss out!
Getting involved is so easy! Both individuals and teams can come together in order to raise money for gift tote bags given to ALS patients and their families upon diagnosis.
You may ask what is ALS? Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ASL) is a progressive neuromuscular disease that attacks motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. As this disease progresses symptoms include weak muscles leading to paralysis and inability to breathe.
With your willingness and participation in this walk we can offer patients and families much needed support and supplies.
Time is running out and you do not want to miss this great opportunity to give back to the community! Visit http://www.dwightsfight.org/ right now to find out more information on how to get registered or sponsor! All donation are greatly appreciated!!