Blog posts of '2019' 'April'

There's so much to like about Oregon! As if the Columbia River gorge and its perfect windsurfing dunes weren't magical enough, the development and growth of the State is attracting more newcomers than ever before. Oregon's economic growth comes from several sectors, including the state's oldest industry: Logging. But relatively new companies like software specialist HawkSoft, and general contracting company Perlo Construction, and other independent companies, are experiencing a growth and expansion spurt indicating people are loving and digging Oregon with ceremonial groundbreaking shovels to commemorate and launch new, or more expanding locations! The fascination the Beaver State holds over investors looking for new ventures can be attributed to innumerable reasons. From its preferred coastal location as a shipping port, to its natural resource of dense forests that provide 1/10th of the country's timber, its supply of pure water and rich soil, and a rapidly growing tourism industry demanding hotels and hospitality, Oregonians can expect to see a boom in groundbreakings and first sod-cuttings as we get into the new decade. Here are a few ideas on how to include Oregon's special characteristics, for a first sod-cutting event in one of the most nature blessed states of the country! 

A First Sod-cutting Event Showcasing Oregon's Unique Features

Oregon is not a hugely populated state, but it's recent growth may be changing that! Cities like Portland, Salem, Eugene, Gresham, and Hillsboro are the few with populations over 100,000 - but Beaverton and Bend are following so close behind they may soon join the ranks by this year's end. This growth represents more than just an influx of newcomers. It means many businesses will be opening their doors for the first time, or existing companies and corporations will be expanding and opening new locations to cater to the rapidly growing population, and we know, where there's this kind of growth, our groundbreaking shovels are going to be in hot demand! CeremonialSupplies.com is the best online supplier of high quality ceremonial groundbreaking shovels in the most popular and elegant styles, and all with the option of customization, and at affordable prices that won't break the bank. And beyond making our products available everywhere in the world, our knowledgeable and attentive customer service offers our customers ideas on how to organize a first sod-cutting that showcases the historical or distinctive features of a groundbreaking location. In the case of Oregon and its awe inspiring landscapes of forests, mountains, valleys, and beaches, there are limitless references that can be incorporated into the decor, and in the dedicatory speeches of the best groundbreaking ceremonies.

The Beaver state has some of the most famous nature preserves, such as the Columbia River gorge and Crater Lake - the latter with the distinction of being the deepest body of water in the country, lying in the massive, bowl-shaped caldera of what was left of Mt. Mazama volcano, 1,943' to the bottom of its deep blue waters. These two natural treasures inspire decor colors and event themes as dramatic as the landscapes themselves - imagine the sun-drenched glimmer of golden sand dunes, and the royal blue of pristine waters and incorporate these colors into the overall decoration of any event, but most especially, in a groundbreaking ceremony, where the ground is essentially being dedicated! Other ways of attaching special meaning to these colors in a sod-cutting ceremony is by using colorful groundbreaking shovels with royal blue shovel head, a fiery golden orange color blade, or a shovel head in green, recalling the plush green landscape of Oregon's forests and farms. CeremonialSupplies.com has a hand-picked selection of groundbreaking shovels in 5 colors including blue, red, green, orange, pink, and yellow. Our colorful groundbreaking shovels are every bit as ceremonial as the traditional wood and stainless steel chrome groundbreaking shovels that have become our flagship. All of our groundbreaking shovels are full size (42" tall, with a 9.5" wide blade) and are available in the standard, D-style wood handle model with polished stainless steel chrome blade, the deluxe groundbreaking shovel with wood and metal D-style handle and polished chrome steel blade, the traditional wood groundbreaking shovel with long stem handle and polished chrome plated shovel head, or the shiny, mirror polished steel chrome blade with a wood and metal D-style handle of our VIP model. To make things easier, we also have ready to go groundbreaking kits that include a hard hat and shovel with dress-up bow, or kits that include the deluxe ceremonial shovel and hard hat, with a display stand that is normally used to display the shovel before and after it is used in the actual ground cutting. Also available are persentation cases for the ceremonial shovel, and the hard hat, when these will be given to a special member of the ceremony as a keepsake of the momentous occasion.

Whether you want to play up the forest green tones of cities like Westport, and Timber, the blue waters of coastal cities from Cannon Beach to Brookings, or the tones of trendy cities like Portland, Salem, and Eugene, the sage-brush colored high desert of Eastern Oregon towns like Bend, Elgin, and Jordan Valley - CeremonialSupplies.com has all the products you need to make your groundbreaking ceremony stand out and dazzle your guests, all at budget friendly prices, and shipped promptly and efficiently to your front door wherever you are in Oregon (and anywhere else in the world!) Click here for a shipping quote.

Colorful groundbreaking shovels are a must in Alaska! Any time a new construction site is unveiled, the first shovel to break ground and the pictures that come from the celebration are always treasured in the memory of those who attend the event. This is especially prominent in Alaska, an underdeveloped State poised for growth. Why not make that memory even more amazing with CeremonialSupplies.com and our vast selection of colorful and sturdy groundbreaking shovels? They'll be sure to get you the recognition that your groundbreaking ceremony deserves! Many cities and towns in Alaska, such as Anchorage, Fairbanks, Ketchikan, etc., are thriving with new development opportunities. Alaska is a beautiful and wondrous State, filled with fierce wildlife, beautiful snow-covered landscapes, and hardy, driven and determined people. So why not try to emphasize the icy nature of the land, and the strong will of its people with a Ceremonialsupplies.com Royal Blue groundbreaking shovel? The rich blue color of this ceremonial shovel perfectly reflects the powerful, and cold heritage of Alaska, and fits tightly with the snowy region’s aesthetics, as well as representing the cool and strong character of the people.

If Royal Blue isn’t what you’re looking for, one of our other colorful shovels is sure to fit well with your groundbreaking ceremony theme or decor. Experimentation is the father of success and experimenting with our plethora of shovel colors is sure to lead you to the perfect theme you wish, our other colorful shovels such as the orange groundbreaking shovel, representing the fiery nature of Alaska's origins will serve to carry through a volcanic theme. For more variations CeremonialSupplies.com makes available a full range of colorful shovels that include red, green shovel blade, yellow, and pink. If our colorful shovels aren't your style, we have classic stainless-steel shovels available as well. From our standard chrome blade, to the polished deluxe groundbreaking shovel blade, the mirror-finished blade, or the traditional long stem style with polished stainless steel chrome blade. You may ask yourself, “Why would I need a specialized shovel for a groundbreaking ceremony, when I could just buy any old shovel and be done with it?" While a valid concern, it must be understood that a groundbreaking ceremony signifies the first step in a long, arduous journey. Nothing compares to the excited, energetic, and hopeful feeling that rises in your chest when you see that first little plot of land removed from the earth, and the moment is immortalized for posterity by preserving and even displaying, the ceremonial shovel. Unlike working shovels that rust and stain, the groundbreaking ceremonial shovels are of stainless steel precisely so they can be saved for many years and look exactly the same as when they were first used. Our ceremonial groundbreaking shovels are full size 42" tall with a blade 9.5" wide, and all can be customized with your logo or commemorative text on the blade, the stem, the handle, or all three. In addition, CeremonialSupplies.com also carries a unique selection of groundbreaking kids shovels in a size perfect for children and kids, at 26" high with a 6" blade, these mini shovels come with colorful blades in blue, red, orange, green, pink, and teal to combine with the adult versions.

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, and rightfully so, with beautiful vistas surrounding it, and when weather permits, the view is so clear that Mt. McKinley, a mountain more than 130 miles away from Anchorage, seems to be looming right beside the city. Being the largest population center in the state, groundbreakings are commonplace in Anchorage, and wanting to spruce up the occasion is something that will be on everyone’s mind. Imagine that moment, with the crowd surrounding the construction site and looking up at the backers of the project holding these beautiful groundbreaking shovels, beaming proudly at the undertaking of such a task. Groundbreaking ceremonies aren’t a celebration of an accomplishment, but rather the celebration of the promises that were made, and the blood, sweat, and tears that the workers will put into the completion and fruition of those promises. CeremonialSupplies.com understands the importance of displaying and preserving your special groundbreaking shovel as a memento of the lankmark occasion and for this purpose we offer groundbreaking kits that include hard hat and bow, as well as display stands and cases. And it’s not only Anchorage where you can find a need for groundbreaking supplies, Alaska holds even more promise with the other largest city, Fairbanks, also known as “The Golden Heart of Alaska." The main reason for this title goes back to the discovery of gold in the city during the early 1900’s. But not only does this title refer to that monumental discovery, but as many like to believe, it also refers to the hearts of those who reside in Fairbanks. Although relatively small compared to Anchorage’s much larger population of 291,826, Fairbank’s population of 31,535 permanent residents is nothing to scoff at. As the famous naturalist John Muir once said, “To the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world.” Many people tend to believe that Alaska is a barren land with no promise, but this could not be further from the truth, with Alaska’s booming oil and gas industry making up almost 85 percent of Alaska’s state budget, and flourishing jobs concerning zoology and biology contributing to the economic growth of one of our last territorial frontiers, Anchorage, Fairbanks, and all other cities and towns in Alaska are attracting more entrepreneurships than ever before and the timing is ripe for the establishment of new commerce endeavors. These new ventures inevitably open the door for groundbreaking ceremonies and business growth opportunities.

Alaska is a place for many opportunities, and giving your new construction site groundbreaking ceremony that personal flair will go a long way for you. Shop at CeremonialSupplies.com, the number one shop on the internet to purchase supplies for all your needs concerning ceremonies and events. With great quality products, affordable pricing, friendly customer service, and shipping to wherever you are, it’s no wonder CeremonialSupplies.com is the best ceremonial shop on the web! Click here for a shipping quote.

This is the time! If you haven't gotten your red carpet for your school graduation, or for prom night arrivals, this may be your last opportunity! This year proms across the country are going high end with lots of style and glamour and of all places, California tops our list for prom carpet runners. The Golden State is having more graduations, proms, and school events than everyone else, at least so it seems, and we at CeremonialSupplies.com are thrilled to be a supplier of choice for event carpet runners. It's the reason why our selection of red carpet runners (and other colors too!) has been carefully manufactured to provide the highest quality material, at budget friendly prices. After all, we love a great celebration ourselves!

Everyone knows Los Angeles is the trendiest city for glamour and sophistication, and it appears schools, colleges, and universities all over California have taken their Q from events like the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, Emmy Awards, jut to name a few, and have adopted the fancy red carpet arrival for local schools graduations, proms, and school award ceremonies. Combining school colors with an event carpet runner and a step and repeat banner has given high school seniors a taste for what the celebrity spotlight is all about. As proms become more elaborate and sophisticated, schools and colleges from Eureka, Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, to Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and San Diego and every town in between are opting for giving their students a grand style send off into the world. This is where CeremonialSupplies.com comes in - hands down the best one-stop online store on the web for event carpet runners and other ceremonial products such as stanchions and rope, spools of customized ribbons in a variety of colors, oversized personalized ribbons, step and repeat backdrops, and event aisle runners in the traditional plush, full and soft fiber you've come to expect and rely on from CeremonialSupplies.com. We now offer the same luxurious carpet runners in a beautiful deep blue, regal purple, bright emerald green, elegant black, powerful pink, and the traditional red that has been associated since antiquity with the pathway used by gods and goddesses.

Wherever you live in the great state of California, CeremonialSupplies.com will ship your event carpet runner efficiently and promptly just in time for your prom night arrival entrance, or your school graduation ceremony. It's part of our complete customer service package where you receive attentive and knowledgeable customer care, crafted quality products, at prices that won't set back the education budget! And remember, our variety in colors for event carpet runners along with our sturdy and reusable step and repeat backdrop banner and stanchions and rope, will make prom night and graduation a truly memorable experience. Whether your school colors are red and green like Eureka High School colors, or the silver and maroon colors of the West Campus High School warriors, CeremonialSupplies.com can create premiere style red carpet backdrops that will dazzle! Not to mention the bright, eye-cathing red carpet runner that perfectly matches the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and it's tomato red color! Oakland High School, the oldest high school in California, established in 1869 boasts a royal blue color that will vividly pop out when matched with our royal blue aisle runner. Saratoga High School in Saratoga has the red, white, and blue colors that can be combined with our deluxe deep blue ceremonial carpet, framed by a pair of brass stanchions and red velvet rope, a falcon logo and the Saratoga High School name on the red carpet step and repeat banner, and the scene is ready for young teenagers to step out in style.

Shop our products on CeremonialSupplies.com online and jump on the opportunity to make your high school prom, or your college or university graduation an event that will be cherished for years to come. We will make you feel like a celebrity from the time you speak with our customer service staff, until you receive your order wherever you are in California (or anywhere else in the world!), because we want to continue to see California topping our list for event carpet runners! Click here for a shipping quote.

Groundbreaking ceremonies are rooted in ancient architectural rituals that involved an offering for the consecration of the ground upon which a structure was built. These buildings were temples or monuments dedicated to gods and goddesses, fundamentally offering an exchange between the person or persons who consecrated the ground, and the entity to whom the structure was dedicated, for the granting of good fortune. Today the essence of this tradition is largely included in the dedication speeches delivered by company VIPs and local government officials taking part in a first sod-cutting ceremony, and in return, these people are recognized with a memento of the event. An appropriate keepsake for this occasion is an award plaque, but sometimes we tend to either go overboard with presentation, or leave out people we shouldn't, and this raises the question about ceremonial shovels for a groundbreaking ceremony: who gets them? CeremonialSupplies.com is a proud supplier of the finest quality products for groundbreaking ceremonies, including ceremonial groundbreaking shovels, customized hard hats, groundbreaking shovel display stands, red carpet and event runners of various colors, stanchions and rope, step and repeat backdrops and commemorative plaques and awards, among many other products and to help you organize an outstanding groundbreaking ceremony, and below is a brief description of the significance of keepsakes for a sod-cutting ceremony, and suggestions on who should be receiving a commemorative plaque in a groundbreaking ceremony.

Since antiquity there has existed a belief by man, in the benevolent law of a higher power to whom man could appeal for the favor of good fortune, or a similarly positive outcome to his wishes or needs. Whether true or not, man was rewarded enough for this belief so that this request to a higher nature led to repetitions that ultimately became traditions, and to some extent, even superstition; based on the notion that if not properly requested, things would go wrong. For example, military leaders in ancient times offered the construction of temples dedicated to the god or goddess whom they had besieged for a favorable outcome in battle. The temple of Venus Erycinia in Capitoline Hill for example, ruins which still stand today in Rome, was built by Quintus Fabius Maximus, hoping to reverse his fate after a defeat in battle. Today, groundbreaking ceremonies are conducted chiefly for corporate and public buildings, although any hardcore ritualistic aficionado may carry one out when breaking ground on a backyard pool as a matter of individual preference.

The Essential Items For A Groundbreaking Ceremony

The most important item for a groundbreaking ceremony is the ceremonial groundbreaking shovel. There are many styles and designs, and CeremonialSupplies.com has a selection of quality, groundbreaking shovels, all made from stainless steel, ranging from the Standard chrome plated with a D-style metal and wood handle, to the Deluxe, polished chrome shovel with D-style metal handle, the long stem, traditional shovel, the mirror polished chrome VIP ceremonial groundbreaking shovel with D-style metal handle, or the latest addition to our assortment; groundbreaking shovels with full color blades in red, blue shovel head, orange ceremonial shovel blade, green shovel, yellow shovel, and pink ceremonial shovel. These styles are all full size shovels, (42" high with a 9.5" blade), and CeremonialSupplies.com also carries a selection of colorful groundbreaking kids shovels in red, blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, and teal. The kids' groundbreaking shovels are 26" high with a 6" blade, and have a D-style, all metal handles. These mini groundbreaking kids shovels are a favorite for ceremonies where children or kids will take part with their parents- a significant and symbolic gesture in general and particularly for a family business endeavor. All CeremonialSupplies.com groundbreaking shovels can be customized inhouse with your logo, a message or text printed directly on the shovel head, the stem, the handle, or all three!

You may want to consider a groundbreaking shovel and display stand kit. The benefit of a display stand is that it can be used as a display to hold the groundbreaking ceremonial shovels adorned with hard hat and bow, before they are actually used to cut first ground, and after the sod-cutting so they're not simply laying around, especially if they will be displayed later in somebody's office, lobby, or home. For a groundbreaking shovel that will be presented to a CEO, or a similarly high ranking chief who will keep and display it in an office or home, we have ceremonial shovel display cases that will protect and display the shovel for posterity.

Preparing A Speech For A Groundbreaking Ceremony

Dedication speeches for a groundbreaking ceremony are more than just words put together to welcome guests and lead them to the buffet table. These speeches represent the offering and the positive favor expected to be exchanged, and one of the most effective ways to compose a dedication speech for a groundbreaking ceremony is to first conduct research on the ground where the construction will take place. Historical facts about the area offer many references to symbolically combine values such as honor, respect, perseverance and many others that are relevant to the present. You'll be surprised at the similarities you'll be able to find, and use, between the historic past and the modern present!

Dedication speeches for a groundbreaking ceremony should be made by the president of the company, the vice president, the CEO, and where appropriate the head of an associated organization, in the case of a private company or corporation. It would also be appropriate to invite local government officials to make a speech. Take for instance, a groundbreaking ceremony for a civil engineering company. A roster of persons who should be included in the ceremony, i.e., holding shovels and digging first dirt, would be the President, the Vice President, lead roadway engineer, lead structural engineer, etc. In the case of a public building it should be the chief, or director who oversees the department under which the building will operate, for example, the dedication speech for the groundbreaking of a federal courthouse, would be made by a local Senator or Congressman or Congresswoman representing the area, a Chief US District Judge, and can include other local government officials. The person ultimately organizing the groundbreaking ceremony should remember to present these, the primary speakers and most likely the people who will be cutting first ground, with a commemorative keepsake of the occasion. Each of the persons who will hold a ceremonial groundbrekaing shovel, should be presented with one. Honorary guests, received a commemorative plaque. The plaque and the ceremonial groundbreaking shovel, should be customized with the name and date of the event, and can be accompanied with a hard hat and either a display stand or a display case that would enable the preservation of the ceremonial shovel for the future. A ceremonial groundbreaking shovel is usually presented to all who participate in the actual ceremony. Another item that can serve as a keepsake of the momentous occasion is a plaque. There are many styles of plaques and CeremonialSupplies.com has some of the most popular to choose from, all at budget friendly prices, and finely crafted quality.

Shop CeremonialSupplies.com for all your groundbreaking ceremony products, including the best quality ceremonial shovels on the web! You will be pleased with our products and prices, our attentive and knowledgeable customer service, and our prompt and flawless shipping wherever you are in the world! Click here for a shipping quote.

The pattern of prosperity that establishes settlements of towns, cities, and countries begins with explorations. For a captivating sod-cutting event, combine elegant groundbreaking shovels and Missouri history in dedication speeches for a truly fascinating ceremony. Economic growth fuels the construction industry because more people obtain capital for new business endeavors, and established businesses expand and grow into new areas. This process is more sophisticated today than it was when French Jesuit missionary Father Jacques Marquette, and fur trader and explorer Louis Joliet set out in two canoes from St. Ignace, at the head of Lake Michigan in 1673 to find the direction and mouth of the Mississippi River. They couldn't have foreseen that 346 years later the area that includes the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri would become one of the most enterprising areas in the mid-west.

Today, cities like Springfield, Chicago, Kansas City, and St. Louis are enjoying a steady, economic and construction boom, and we at CeremonialSupplies.com couldn't be happier! Our deluxe groundbreaking shovels to St. Louis, Missouri; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois are top in our shipping charts. We love ceremonies, especially groundbreakings and laying of the first cornerstone, not just because ceremonial decorations and groundbreaking shovels are our business, but also because these architectural rituals feature dedication speeches that invariably refer to the history of the land. And the land that cradles the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri have a spellbinding history that make groundbreaking dedicatory speeches as exciting as reliving the past! Here are a few references worth considering for a dedication speech as you prepare the groundbreaking shovel to hit dirt in the upper Mississippi river states!

The voyage of Marquette and Joliet helped start the first settlements in the interior of North America, that were not already Native American settlements, and demonstrates that peaceful coexistence and trading flourished among Native Americans and the French Canadian. This reference shows that cooperation, an important value of any new enterprise, is crucial for the prosperity of communities, and makes as strong a statement in a first sod-cutting dedication speech as glossy, mirror finish, groundbreaking shovels do.

The history of the region goes back to 12,000 BC, and although the explorers did not discover the Mississippi river, they did confirm it was possible to travel by water from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Marquette and Joliet didn't reach the Gulf of Mexico though, and turned around near what is today Arkansas, because the territory south belonged to Spain and the explorers would have surely been captured, putting their fate and the exploration in peril. This reference is a strong support for the value of careful consideration in everything associated with a new business venture or enterprise, including the choice of products that will be used in the groundbreaking ceremony. For example, if the groundbreaking shovels will be preserved and displayed, consider purchasing a product that is actually worth preserving, and will not rust, fade, or stain. CeremonialSupplies.com has a selective assortment of stainless steel blade ceremonial shovels ranging from the Standard, polished chrome with D-style wooden handle, to the Deluxe polished chrome shovel with aircraft grade steel with wood and metal D-style handle and the traditional long stem polished chrome blade, or the mirror polished chrome VIP ceremonial groundbreaking shovel with wood and metal D-style handle. All high-quality, top grade products at budget friendly prices and prompt, efficient shipping to wherever you are in Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, or anywhere else in the world! And, all our shovels can be customized with your logo or name, on the blade, the stem, the handle, or all three!

The exploration of the Mississippi river through what is now Illinois and Missouri, helped the French establish a network of trading posts along the river. Creative party planners and organizers can get plenty of inspiration from these details for decorating a groundbreaking ceremony in the north Mississippi states, especially for themes that feature nature and its elements. For example, where appropriate as part of the overall decor, colorful groundbreaking shovels would provide a touch of the elements associated with the original lifestyle of the region. CeremonialSupplies.com has an assortment of colorful, full-size (42" high with a blade with of 9.5") ceremonial shovels with D-style wood and metal handles that would be perfect for a groundbreaking ceremony in Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, or Illinois. You can choose a red groundbreaking shovel, or one with a blue blade, green blade, orange, yellow, pink, and pink, or one of each if you want the ceremonial groundbreaking shovels to signify more than just the colorful origins of the area.

Dedication speeches for a groundbreaking ceremony can be informative and provide background of the area where the first cutting of ground is taking place. Essentially, it is the consecrating of ground, based on ancient architectural rituals. It is a wonderful way to infuse positive energy into a new construction site, by recalling the prosperous past of the land. And there is no better place on the web to find all the supplies you need for a groundbreaking ceremony, from groundbreaking shovels, to hard hats, shovel stands and display cases, personalized ribbons, step and repeat banners, ceremonial ribbon cutting scissors, and even plaques to recognize the speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony! Shop CeremonialSupplies.com for a truly unforgettable, top rate, first sod-cutting event and we will get your products to you flawlessly and efficiently. Click here for a shipping quote.

Tradition is what happens when we develop a strong bond with the positive and worthwhile experiences of the past. Lovers of everything harmonious, colorful and natural are inevitably attracted to locations that funny enough, are "traditional" locations imbued with exactly that which nature loving enthusiasts look for. And it's here, in a step by step guide to a Mississippi riverboat red carpet reception. Corporate event scouts or marketing assistants are entrusted with securing sales meeting locations where the team can gather for acknowledgements, encouragements, and important announcements. The mighty Mississippi is famous all over the world, and the vivid atmosphere of the thriving transient town known as the Big Easy is allure enough. It's been psychologically proven that sense association triggers a pleasurable response in our human brain. Imagine therefore a corporate event, be it a sales meeting, a product launch, distributor appointment, or an industry conference, including a Mississippi riverboat red carpet reception in its agenda! It will make the attendees happy, and dare we say, loyal?

Planning is key to everything. Have we said this before? It can't be stressed enough. For your health, plan ahead. CeremonialSupplies.com is here to help with the execution of your plan. Our ceremonial red carpets, which are in fact available in several other colors- all equally worthy of the gods and goddesses of sales and marketing, such colors as the deep, elegant and almost slightly subdued midnight blue hue of our deluxe blue carpet runner, or the bright luminous emerald green carpet, as well as other essential color runners in black, purple, royal blue, and pink. Let us daydream about the carpet as you organize names, contact numbers, emails, all forms of general identification and put your first, good list of guests together for the host hotel. Trust us on this, you will save yourself (not to mention the hotel) lots of grief. Of course, keep it updated. A simple, excel worksheet list is good for updates. Create a list of the hotels you'd like to check out in the area, and a list of the main historical attractions. We are learning creatures and everyone likes to learn new things. Make a list of places that are within walking distance from the hotels. Dates are important - pick the conference dates. If your budget is fairly open, book your Mississippi conference during spring or fall. If you have a Cinderella budget then book in July when hotel rooms are half the price, but remember, humidity will be 100%.

First Step - Contact the Local Representative

Make sure you're not acting alone from your ivory tower. It can lead to embarrassing situations so always err on the side of caution. Even if you can pick up the phone and contact the hotels in the Downtown District, or the Garden District, and the French Quarter (It's a relatively small area) and based on the number of total guests (as per that list you're keeping), negotiate accommodations for the team, senior management, and for the big guys coming from the financial district of the world, it will be best if you involve the local representative in the area where you are planning the conference. In this case, contact your company representative in Louisiana, or Mississippi if there's one. This is how you maximize opportunities. Involve the local company representative in the planning stage. Work with this person when negotiating with hotels for room block and at least one hotel catered event. This is the time to plan and decorate, for a hospitality suite for people to gather, mingle, lounge, use the computer, phone, etc. Customized banners, and personalized ribbons in a variety of sizes is a time tested practice that works best for tying together a room decor and personalized ribbons can dress up a table, or can be hung from the center of the ceiling outward toward the walls and drape down. There are many ways to use personalized banner and customized ribbons to decorate a hospitality suite. The hotel(s) will also be able to put you in touch with their in-house activities director (party planner) to organize different outings or activities. There's so much to pick from! A gospel choir reception and dinner at Oak Alley Plantation (the setting for the film Interview With A Vampire), a St. Charles streetcar tour from the French Quarter to Commander's Palace, or even an alligator swamp tour!

Putting Together The Conference Agenda

An "Agenda" is a list of ALL activities that will take place, and where. For example, Day 1 of the conference you've scheduled a Welcome Breakfast on the rooftop poolside of the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel in the French Quarter, which of course, you will have decorated appropriately, perhaps with welcoming balloons, vertical freestanding signs featuring the company logo or a product, and customized ribbons. Followed by a product presentations that will be made to the sales team in one of the meeting rooms. The proper way to list this in an Agenda is by including all the details, time, name of location, and who's the lead person for each event, so that everyone knows exactly what is going on, and where. Phone calendars are great, apps are fabulous, but make sure you have a hard copy paper agenda emailed to everyone at least 2 weeks ahead of time, and have another hard copy ready for each participant upon arrival - either in the room with a souvenir gift, or upon checking in or registration. Everything is included in the agenda - breakfast time, meeting time, break time, end time, what time to meet at the lobby for outside activities, until what time are the hotel doors open, and what to do after hours?

Organizing A Special Night Aboard A Mississippi Riverboat!

The entire team has now been checked in and all the conference attendees are present. This is the day for the special activity, or event - before anybody has to break away after their presentation. For this special night you've arranged for a 2-hour Mississippi River cruise aboard the Natchez, named after the city in Mississippi, cruising out of New Orleans. How will you get the team from the hotel to the dock? It's relatively within walking distance but you want to awe your guests, and make them feel important, so how about arranging for horse and carriage rides? These are all over the French Quarter and it doesn't take much to have them parade in front of the hotel at a specified time when you've asked the guests to meet at the lobby. Off you go toward the docks! Passing by Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, Cafe du Monde, Pirate's Alley and all the historical spots along the way to the docks, this gives your guests a chance to take in the French Quarter.

As your first four guests step down from the carriage and arrive at the dock behind Cafe du Monde, they step onto a plush red carpet from CeremonialSupplies.com, and smile for the photographer as they walk the 6' wide by 30' long event carpet runner. Next to the plank you've set up a step and repeat banner customized with your company logo and the motto you've chosen for the event, and the first group approaches for photos, after which they are guided by hitching post style stanchions (specifically designed for outdoor use) into the Natchez, where everyone will eventually gather at the front of the boat for refreshments and finger foods. As your guests arrive, you've given enough time between each group of four so that there's no bottlenecking by the official photo on the step and repeat, although you certainly will have guests on the red carpet watching others arrive.

When everyone is onboard and the Natchez sets out on a dinner and jazz cruise, you will look at the setting contentedly and enjoy the rest of the evening with your guests. You got all your supplies from CeremonialSupplies.com, everything from the red event carpet runner, stanchions, step and repeat banner, personalized oversized ribbons to dress the room and tables, to the recognition plaques that will be given out to the team. You can be sure that every one of your guests will feel special, and will not only enjoy the event that you've organized for them, but will remember it for years to come. With detailed organization and CeremonialSupplies.com you can organize red carpet events, conferences and meetings, and be assured that you're working with the best online store on the web for high quality materials at budget friendly prices, attentive and knowledgeable customer service, and you will receive prompt and efficient shipping wherever you are in Louisiana, Mississippi, or anywhere else in the world! Click here for a shipping quote.

Prom is right around the corner in Virginia, and everywhere else in the country! The difference is historical Virginia offers incredible theme options based on the Mother of Presidents State. Prom is an important moment in every teen’s life. It allows them to relax and enjoy their lives after 4 years of tough high school life. The students have worked hard, finished all their testing and just want a few hours where they can kick back and chill with all of their friends in a high-class event. This is where historical Virginia themes make it easy to throw an amazing and memorable prom party with the help of Ceremonialsupplies.com. Recreate the first permanent English colony in America at Jamestown, colonial Williamsburg, or the elegance of the presidential homes Monticello, Mount Vernon and Montpelier. Young ladies love to dress up in attractive gowns and guys, well, the majority tend to be a little less extrovert to show off their tux style. Imagine how sharp military costumes could be for a Yorktown theme of the American Revolution! A red carpet themed event a-la Stratford Hall, designing backdrops of this 1730 estate! The possibilities are endless when you consider combining the historical background of Virginia with posh, elegant, prom ideas!

Ceremonialsupplies.com is the best place on the net to buy quality supplies for all your event needs! You might ask, how can Ceremonialsupplies.com help me with my prom endeavors? It’s very easy to answer. We have a vast collection of event supplies that will aid you in your task, such as stanchions and ropes, and even red carpet! Make your prom night feel like a star-studded camera-flashing Hollywood event. Red carpet makes your attendees feel high class and like famous movie stars. Many high school events don’t go the extra mile to take their party from “just another” to something that will be cherished and talked about for years on end, never leaving the minds of those that attended it. Something even more important to consider is that Virginia has some of the top-ranking high schools in the United States, meaning that the student bodies of these institutions are worked hard and are looking for only the best quality when it comes to their proms.

Bringing back the topic of red carpets, not only do they invoke the air of a Hollywood night, they themselves exude the energy of something important. After all, only the most exclusive and high-level events have the red carpet. It creates a feeling of “we made it to the end” to whomever walks on them. So why not give your prom night attendants that awesome sensation of luxury? And to compound, the carpet doesn’t have to be just red. If you’re looking for something different or something to stand out, we even have carpets in a myriad of other colors, for example we have red carpets, blue carpet runner, green carpets, and many more. If your prom night has an underwater theme, why not procure a blue carpet to help with that oceanic feel. Imagine how well it would go along with rest of the aquatic décor. Or imagine if your prom night decides to go with a valentine, or “love’ theme! Why not select our pink carpet runners, a perfect addition alongside all the red and pink décor that is sure to be everywhere? Even if your prom has an outlandish theme, such as a jungle exploration theme, or an outer space theme with a Langley Air Force Base theme, we have the perfect color for such an event, with our beautiful green carpet runners, finding a snug spot next to a welcoming Dodo bird, or an alien in it’s UFO. What we want to say is that whatever the theme in historic Virginia, Ceremonialsupplies.com has your back covered when it comes to supplies. Shop with us for anything and everything that you might need in order to prepare for what is sure to be a fun and exciting prom night! Ceremonialsupplies.com is the one stop shop for all of your ceremony and event needs, with banners, ribbons, stanchions, and ropes, and many more supplies for you to purchase at your leisure. Ceremonialsupplies.com has great quality supplies, friendly customer service, and quick shipping to wherever you are. Click here for a shipping quote.

Colorful groundbreaking kid shovels put a smile on everyone's face! For some reason, groundbreaking ceremonies where kids participate have a way of making everyone smile, the kids, and all who watch them. It's something about the freshness and enthusiasm that makes such an event, at times a serious presentation with a long list of speakers, something fun to watch when kids are involved. A groundbreaking is an architectural ceremony related to building. In ancient times a first sod cutting was a symbolic and ritualistic ceremony that proposed communion between the world of ideas, and the physical world, and was conducted for the purpose of consecrating the ground for safe construction and completion. What the ancients sought, was the favor of positive energy, and there just isn't a more powerful voltage than that of children smiling and laughing. It's uplifting to see children and young kids take part in first ground cutting projects like a new public library, a new children's health pavilion, new school, or park, especially when photos show happy, smiling faces with the twinkle of good fun in the eyes! CeremonialSupplies.com is proud to offer a palette of colorful groundbreaking kids shovels for their first sod-cutting! 26" in height with a 6" width blade, our mini groundbreaking shovels come in a variety of colors to match a logo, or a structural color scheme. These mini shovels can also be personalized on the blade or the stem, and presented as a keepsake or memento to one or more VIP participating in the ceremony. Dressed up in a big bow, this mini version of the groundbreaking shovel also makes for a fun gift!

First sod-cuttings are important occasions when those who helped make it a reality are acknowledged in a meaningful way, commemorative wall plaques and keys to the city are a great way to say thank you with an engraved message. This mini steel groundbreaking shovel is the perfect size for children of executives or VIPs who will take part in the event, and it also makes a fun memory to display side-by-side with the full size shovel in the corresponding color, and works great as a keepsake memento just as much as a wall plaque or keys to the city! Keep in mind this mini groundbreaking kids shovel can be customized too!

Whether you're looking for full size, traditional steel blade groundbreaking ceremonial shovels, the full size color groundbreaking shovels, or for the colorful mini groundbreaking kids version, CeremonialSupplies.com is the best place on the web for high quality, finely crafted products at budget friendly prices, and for knowledgeable and attentive customer service that will get your products to you promptly and efficiently, wherever you are in the world. Shop our website for the perfect size, mini groundbreaking shovel for kids, in bright hues of red, royal blue, canary yellow, teal, pink, orange, and green. All the mini shovels have a full metal D-Style handle that makes them sturdy and easy to hold, and combine them with an adult size 42" tall with 9.5"

If you're planning a fun and colorful groundbreaking ceremony where children or young kids will be present and taking part shoveling first dirt, get all your supplies at the best one-stop shop on the internet for groundbreakings, grandopenings, and all ceremonial events. At CeremonialSupplies.com we have a selection of hand-picked high quality products to accommodate every budget, from full size, traditional groundbrekaing shovels, color hard hats, groundbreaking shovel kits, personalized ribbons in an assortment of widths, personalized banners, step and repeat, event carpet runners in shinny bright colors, grand opening banners, grand opening ribbons and ceremonial ribbon cutting scissors, and many more products. All of the finest quality, and ready to ship to you promptly wherever you are! Click here for a shipping quote.