All Posts From October 2009

On Tuesday, October 6th, the FantaSea Yachts family and team, hosted an annual luncheon cruise for members of Café Europa, a Holocaust survivors support group.  This is an annual luncheon arranged by Jewish Family Services of which the matriarch of the Ginzburg family, Eveline, is a long standing volunteer and sponsor.

Our first event for Café Europa was 3 years ago aboard our yacht RegentSea.  90 guests attended.  Over the past 3 years we are gratified and honored that this event has become the #1 event for Café Europa and this year we hosted 230 guests aboard FantaSea One. With most guests averaging around 85, FantaSea One was the perfect location, equipped with an elevator to whisk the guests into the dining room, where a delectable three course formally served meal awaited our important guests.

In fact, this is a much anticipated cruise not only by the members of Café Europa, but also by our FantaSea Staff.  It is a wonderful opportunity for us to give what we do best to a most deserving and appreciative group.  They are boisterous and lively and from the moment they arrive, they truly enjoy every minute of the FantaSea experience.  They are so appreciative and it is our absolute pleasure to be able to bring a smile and joy to their day.  One of the guests even said: “Sixty years ago, when I was in Auschwitz, I never dreamed that a day like today would be possible.”  This sentiment is exactly why each and every one of our staff strive to make sure that every minute aboard is a special moment, with happy memories, for all of the guests.  We are appreciative of the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing organization.  It is truly a special day for everyone involved.

My first wedding: August 1977 in Healdsburg, California

Mother, “I want to get married”…said my daughter to me.

The first in a series of blogs to transpire over the next 2 years.

At 50 now, I remember the day my daughter was born and I would look at her and daydream about the day she would come to me and tell me she was going to get married.  I set out then to give her every tool I could to allow her the best judgement in making her choice.

She is 23 now and we have come to that ‘pause’ in the road…for me anyway, where I have been informed that it is time to begin preparing for her wedding.  I remember the day I told my mother I was getting married.  She thought better of it and certainly shared so.  Looking back now, I clearly understand why she would offer me the opportunity to go to Art School in Paris instead.  But at 18, I knew just what I wanted to do and that included getting married.  My wedding was my mothers favorite past time, she was a hard working woman but planning her daughter’s wedding became another reason to throw a big party.  I really had very little to do with it in the end.  Besides, she was a formidable woman and taking her to task was not for the light hearted!  She delivered, and my wedding was beautiful and everybody talked about what a terrific day it was.

Here at FantaSea Yachts, I work with many brides and their mothers planning many, many weddings.  I am very fortunate with a great team in doing so, and in the end, not one wedding is ever the same.

I’d like to invite you to join me in the fun and challenges we are about to embark upon as we plan my daughters wedding which, of course, will be aboard one of FantaSea’s beautiful yachts.  There will be some similarities to my first wedding, as she has basically said, “Mom, please just take care of it. Here are the things I would like…”  Uh-Huh…I know better…she will have her input and no doubt share so.

This lovely, yet untraditional wedding and reception will culminate at the end of my daughters schooling…my prerequisite.  She will graduate in June 2011 with her masters degree and in September, we shall have a party…oh, and wedding…

You are cordially invited…

Having the opportunity to coordinate many of the events here at FantaSea, I marvel at the creativity that I see making these special events so…well, special! From hand made invitations and place card holders, to heartfelt gift favors and rhyming speeches; our guests never cease to amaze me at how they put their thumbprint on their special event.

As I write this, I am reminded of my sister’s wedding three years ago.  She and her then fiancée chose to turn the very plain Veteran’s hall of Clovis, California, into an Italian themed reception to compliment our family’s heritage.  Complete with red checkered tablecloths, Chianti in baskets and faux grapes hanging from the ceiling.  When I walked in, my eyes went immediately to the Karaoke DJ in the corner and the ear plug guest favors at each place setting and thought…oh brother, how on earth are we related???  Well, with my tummy stuffed with antipasto, I joined the conga line dancing around the room, I ended up having the best time!  It was the most fun wedding my family has had in a long time and reflecting upon it now…it was so perfectly them!!!

It all starts with a date, a time and a place…and the ideas tend to just flow from there.  Some of our guests come in with a theme already, just looking for a venue to compliment.  Others will see our venues and let the ideas build from there.  We have turned the yacht club into everything from a European Bistro complete with working water fountain, to a Dr. Seuss inspired wonderland.  Our yachts have been transformed into pirate ships and cruising Hawaiian luau’s and just about everything in between.

Though these transformations are incredible, it’s really the little things, those extra special touches that I have seen along the way that I think set each event apart from one another.  Here are a few photos of some of my favorite things, there are almost too many to include!

The best events are the ones that reflect you. After all…it is your celebration, it should be about you!