Blog posts of '2020' 'January'

The FOR SALE sign on the empty plot of land was now gone, and the new landowners decided to hold an official groundbreaking ceremony the day before the construction crew was scheduled to prepare the site for building. Granted, groundbreaking ceremonies are usually a thing for government, or corporate America, whenever a new court house, public park, company location or a new public building will be constructed. But as people find yet another reason to gather, celebrate, and have a good time, private home builders adopt groundbreaking ceremonial ritual to launch the construction of their new home. Expect to see more of these ritualistic and fun activities around your residential neighborhood - they're pretty much a "must do," if you are building your own home. You want to have a groundbreaking ceremony before the construction of your new home? This is what you need to know:

A groundbreaking ceremony is an old, ritualistic tradition that takes place on the land where construction of a new structure will be built. It used to be that first sod-cuttings and laying of the cornerstone were part of the same ceremony. A modern groundbreaking event rarely has the laying of the first cornerstone, especially with prefab structures! The laying of the cornerstone meant the placement of a hollowed block of cement where a "sacred" deposit was made. These deposits ranged from gold coins, jewels, and special artifacts, to human sacrifices. Mind you, as everything that was common in antiquity, there are myths about these ceremonies that are open to speculation. Nevertheless first ground cuttings were highly symbolic and relevant to the land where the construction took place. For our fun, family-oriented, modern version of these architectural rituals there's very little you need, especially if you consider the best one-stop shop on the net, CeremonialSupplies.com, where you can choose from a number of quality crafted groundbreaking shovels, hard hats, display stands, ribbons and bows, and all the accessories and supplies you need for a top notch new home groundbreaking ceremony.

What You Will Need For A New Home Construction Groundbreaking Ceremony

You've spent hours and days researching the family tree and the family history looking for dates that are either repeated throughout the family's legacy, or that are relevant to the new landowners and finally settled on a date for your groundbreaking ceremony. You've also decided that you want to include a cornerstone laying as part of the ceremony and have collected a number of special items for a time capsule brick you'll be laying on the garage entryway brick wall. The inside of the safe-like hollow brick is of stainless steel metal and can hold things such as photographs, documents, a couple of sheets of folded newspaper, key chain, jewelry, coins, and small mementos you wish to place in the time capsule.

For the actual sod-cutting event you want to go first class style and quality all the way! CeremonialSupplies.com has a selection of groundbreaking shovels that will be sure to fit your budget without having to cut down on the luxury. All you need to do is decide who will be the ones doing the actual first digging of ground, and how many ceremonial shovels you will need? The VIP Ceremonial Groundbreaking Mirror Gold Shovel is CeremonialSupplies.com top of the line and consists of a labor intensive gold color plating polished to mirror-perfect reflection, as is our Groundbreaking VIP Mirror Chrome Ceremonial Shovel that follows the same process but it's mirror reflection is upon a highly polished chrome plated finish. Both, the VIP Ceremonial Groundbreaking Mirror Gold Shovel and the Groundbreaking VIP Mirror Chrome Ceremonial Shovel have matching metal D-style grip handles and like all our shovels, can be customized on the blade, the stem, the handle, or all three! Not to be outshined is our Deluxe Ceremonial Groundbreaking Chrome Head Shovel, a quality groundbreaking shovel with polished chrome finish and a wood and metal D-style grip handle. The polished wood handle and polished chrome finish shovel blade are a striking combination that makes this shovel one of our most popular selling items. We also have the Standard Chromed Stainless Steel Groundbreaking Shovel with a highly polished steel shovel head and an all-wood stem and D-style grip handle that makes this groundbreaking shovel a fit with the grandeur of any ceremonial sod-cutting. For a more utilitarian and traditional approach, CeremonialSupplies.com offers the Stainless Steel Long Handle Groundbreaking Shovel with a 58" long ash wood handle, this ceremonial shovel is sophisticated and authentic. If a fun attitude is what you want for your groundbreaking ceremony, there's no better way to do it than with bright and colorful groundbreaking shovels! Choose from our selection of colorful shovels for groundbreaking ceremonies ranging from green shovel head, orange, pink, red, blue, teal, and yellow. All CeremonialSupplies.com shovels are full size 42" high and 9" wide at the blade, with a stainless steel shovel head base. In addition, we offer a selection of color blade mini shovels 26" high and 6" wide at the blade, available in the same colors of the full-size ceremonial color shovels. CeremonialSupplies.com mini shovels are a perfect size for kids that will take part in the ceremony, or they can be presented as a gift or keepsake to an important VIP. All can be customized with your name, brand, logo, or other text.

Trimmings For A Private Home Groundbreaking Ceremony

With CeremonialSupplies.com you will be able to choose and customize all the trimmings for a private home groundbreaking ceremony if you want to escalate your event to a major function. Sod-cutting ceremonies take place outside and sometimes the weather is not our friend. For this reason we recommend that, depending on the size of the crowd and the length of your event, consider a tent on the larger size spectrum. The cost more than pays for itself in reduced stress and worry over the weather. Decorating the tent with ceiling ribbons is easy and carries nominal cost. Our extra-wide ceremonial ribbon is available in 6, 8, 10, and 12 inches widths, in spools of 12 or 25 yards are perfect for ceiling ribbon decor, and can be customized in a repeated pattern that embellishes the event, and doubles as a keepsake for attending guests after the ceremony. It takes a little time to cut each customized piece, but not so much that it isn't worth doing for your special guests. This is your first home building and if you've come this far, you can take the extra step!

The extra-wide ceremonial ribbon can also be used to decorate chair covers or as table runners, if you will be having tables and chairs at your home groundbreaking event. Other decorations to consider are a display of the ceremonial shovels before and after they are actually used. CeremonialSupplies.com offers two simple styles of groundbreaking shovel display stands that will showcase the groundbreaking shovels for all to see. When the customized and fully dressed shovels with hard hats and bows are placed on display, you create the perfect spot for the official event photo, video, or both! CeremonialSupplies.com has a selection of groundbreaking kits that include the sod-cutting shovel, hard hat, and bow or display stand. See GROUNDBREAKING KITS under the GROUNDBREAKINGS category on our website and pick what suits you best and creates the right ambiance for your photos. For an added element of glamour to your groundbreaking shovel display, add a carpet aisle runner and a pair of classic stanchions and rope. You can choose the traditional red carpet in widths from 3 to 6 feet wide, and 10 to 50 feet in length, or pick from other carpet aisle runner colors if you want to match a specific color ribbon, bow, and groundbreaking shovel and hard hat. Finally for the ultimate touch of sophistication at your home groundbreaking event, a step and repeat backdrop for the shovel display will give your event glitz and glamour. After the big event, you will want to preserve, protect, and display your groundbreaking shovels. CeremonialSupplies.com offers 2 styles of shovel display cases constructed of quality wood material in cherry finish. The shovel display cases can be placed vertically for display, or horizontally over a fireplace or mantelpiece in the new home. After all, when choosing and customizing top of the line groundbreaking shovels that are worth displaying, you should do so!

Remember, your first home construction is a big milestone; celebrate it as such and let CeremonialSupplies.com guide you when you shop at our online store - the best online for top quality ceremonial supplies like groundbreaking shovels, hard hats, display stands, ceremonial ribbon, event carpets in the most popular colors, grand opening ceremonial scissors, presentation plaques, military display cases, military medal cases, trophies, plaques, groundbreaking shovel display cases and much more! Our prices are budget friendly, and we ship promptly and efficiently all over the world. Click here for a shipping quote.

It's impossible to say exactly where and how groundbreaking ceremonies got started. We do know it was in antiquity, and back then, a groundbreaking ceremony was a ritual performed to prepare the land before a construction began. Today, the goal of a groundbreaking ceremony is a marketing activity to create interest in a new building project and it's usually organized by the developer for their client. You've been nominated to organize a groundbreaking ceremony for a new company site. Where do you begin? CeremonialSupplies.com, the best online one-stop shop for groundbreaking shovels, hard hats, display stands, and all the tools you need for a memorable groundbreaking ceremony event. To assist you, we have compiled an essential guide for planning a goundbreaking ceremony:

Choose a Date and Schedule the Groundbreaking Ceremony

A groundbreaking ceremony, also called first sod-cutting ceremony, takes place before construction begins. There are a number of things to consider before you choose a date. Groundbreaking ceremonies are essentially, architectural rituals that go back to ancient times. You don't have to be a numerologist to grasp the significance of dates, especially for a sod-cutting event. You don't have to be a meteorologist either to know the best time of the year to hold an event outdoors. How about other events happening at the same time? A groundbreaking ceremony kicks off the construction of the project, therefore you'll want to consider all these things when picking a date. This is what we recommend:

Check your city or town's event calendar. Going online to your township's website should do it. Make sure there isn't a conflict with annual activities or other events going on at the same time that can detract from your groundbreaking ceremony. Of course it would be wonderful if you could conduct the groundbreaking ceremony the same day of your birthday, or your parent's wedding anniversary - but not if the Billboard Awards are taking place on that day! Check the construction calendar and work with the contractor on picking a date that won't interfere with any preparation work they're doing on the site. And finally, consider the time of year for the best weather. Holding a groundbreaking ceremony in Miami, Florida in the middle of August is not a good idea due to the hot, humid weather. You want people to enjoy themselves, not to faint from a heatstroke. The point is to consider weather, conflicting events, and construction schedule.

The Devil is in The Details - Plan Them Carefully

There are a million creative angles and groundbreaking ideas that can make your event interesting and fun. Everything from the area's historical past, its architectural styles, famous people, and pop culture can provide a theme for your event as long as it is relevant. What you do depends on the type of business holding the groundbreaking. If this is the sod-cutting ceremony for a children's museum, your theme can incorporate groundbreaking kids shovels, balloons, miniature wheelbarrows, and entertainers that will draw a portrait, create balloon sculptures, or similar kid-friendly activities. If the groundbreaking is for a fitness center, your theme can be athletics and you might want to have a local sports personality participate as a guest speaker.

Sod-cuttings, dedications, etc., are presentations that include speakers and speeches. There is a protocol for the speaker lineup and this is usually started with the host, or the person representing the company or business conducting the groundbreaking. The host may introduce local government officials, such as councilmen, mayor, etc., a member of the clergy, or other celebrity relevant to the event. Speakers are introduced in an escalating order, in other words, the highest ranking or most important person is the last to be introduced and this person in turn officially declares the event open! Each of your guest speakers should deliver a short speech, and guess what? This is all part of the antiquity of groundbreaking ceremonies when the land was "consecrated" for the hope of a safe construction and an auspicious business venture. Depending on the lineup of speakers, each should have something relevant to say about the project. Speeches may include mentions of historical past achievements of the area, past personalities who were pioneers in the field, and similar anecdotes that highlight the project and also maintains the crowd's interest. Keep this portion of the program short and sweet with no more than 5 minutes for each presenter (shorter if possible - you'll be surprised how much you can say in 2 minutes!) This portion of the groundbreaking ceremony shouldn't be more than 20 - 30 minutes in order to keep a high level of energy among the guests in attendance.

Plan ahead who will be digging first dirt! This is usually the Owner or owners, or the company's CEO and other top VIPs. It is possible you will be needing more than one groundbreaking shovel. CeremonialSupplies.com has the best online assortment of crafted quality groundbreaking shovels. Here you can find the perfect sod-cutting shovel or shovels for your event. All our shovels are full size ceremonial shovels measuring 42" in height with a 9" width at the blade. They are customizable, and have stainless steel heads, (the shovel head is made up of the blade and the socket) and a D-style handle grip. The D-style grip is specific to ceremonial shovels because it offers a particular holding position of the shovel that works best for photos and videos. With the exception of our long-stem shovel, traditional style, (no grip) ceremonial groundbreaking shovel, all CeremonialSupplies.com groundbreaking shovels have a D-style grip handle. The Standard Chromed Stainless Steel Groundbreaking Shovel has a polished steel blade and an all-wood D-style grip; the Deluxe Ceremonial Groundbreaking Chrome Shovel has a polished chrome finish with a steel and wood grip; the Groundbreaking VIP Mirror Chrome Ceremonial Shovel has a labor intensive process of mirror polishing so fine, that you can see your reflection, and the VIP Ceremonial Groundbreaking Mirror Gold shovel, our top of the line ceremonial shovel, has a highly polished golden mirror finish, making it the perfect groundbreaking shovel for a sod-cutting event of aristocratic proportions! In addition to the classic groundbreaking shovels, CeremonialSupplies.com also offers colorful ceremonial shovels with shiny, glossy color in blue, red, yellow, teal, pink, and orange blades. For sod-cutting ceremonies where children will participate, we have miniature-size shovels 26" tall with a 6" blade width. These color shovels are available in the same glossy finish of the full-size color shovels, and both the full size and mini size shovels have D-style metal grips. Our mini shovels are also used as a keepsake presented to VIPs in the organization.

Covering the Logistics

Start planning early. Give yourself at least 3 months in advance to order supplies such as customized groundbreaking shovels, and any other customized item you plan to incorporate in the theme. Consider elements such as a stage and a podium, and a PA system. Plan appropriately for the weather and remember that a nice tent will not only bring a touch of class to the event, it will also cover you from rain! Will there be parking available in the street, or will you be providing shuttles to the site? Groundbreaking events are not full day affairs but depending on the time of day you may want to offer refreshments and finger foods. This means you may have to set up a food area and maybe hire a caterer. Will there be official photos of the event? Create a display with the ceremonial shovels, hard hat, display stand or dirt box, and ribbons and bows. The convenience of a groundbreaking shovel display stand is that it holds the ceremonial shovels in place for everyone to see, before and after the ceremony. Setting up a display of the ceremonial shovels creates an ideal spot for official photographs or video. If you want a posh event, consider using an event carpet runner in front of the groundbreaking shovels display with a step and repeat backdrop behind the ceremonial shovels. If the event attracts a large crowd, using stanchions and rope will keep the flow of traffic streamlined at the photo station.

Shout It Out!

Once the planning stage is finished, you are ready to get the word out about your groundbreaking ceremony. The purpose is to create a buzz and for this, you need to invite the right people. Guests at a groundbreaking ceremony include key company people, local government officials or community leaders - remember, the press follows people like the mayor, the police chief, etc., and of course, invite the press! If you have sponsors, be sure to include them in the program. Work with local chambers and don't forget to invite people who made the construction process possible such as bank representative, the architect, contractor, engineers, or any other person who contributed to the project. It is customary to recognize and thank these people during the presentation and give them a special memento or keepsake of their participation in the form of a plaque, a trophy, or a medal. Check out CeremonialSupplies.com AWARDS category for a look at our different selection of plaques, medals, and other keepsakes.

Social media platforms like Eventbrite, Meetup, Facebook, Instagram, and others are perfect for spreading the word out to the general public, but sending out personal invitations is still considered the best form to communicate an important event, to the people you absolutely want at your ceremony. Protocol dictates that invitations should arrive three weeks before the event but when inviting community leaders, government officials, or members of the press, it is best to give them a month's notice to make sure they can attend. Ask for a return response directly to you. This will ensure that you know exactly who to expect. Consider signs and banners displayed throughout the town, or community. This helps inform the locals and others who aren't on social media.

Keep an organized and always updated guest list. Delegate this task to one person. This person should be in charge of mailing out the invitations, keeping a list of the RSVPs, and contacting those who haven't responded. This person should be able to answer any questions that come in after the invitations have gone out! This approach helps people who may have questions about the event get accurate and consistent information. Maintaining a detailed an organized list is easy with an Excel sheet that will generate a complete and up to date final guest list. On the day of the event, collect the business cards of the attendees by organizing a raffle. The raffle can be a miniature size groundbreaking shovel that commemorates the event!

Follow Up After the Groundbreaking Event

The event may be over but your work isn't - especially if you want to get all the PR you can get! Be sure to reach out to all the speakers, celebrities, special guests, sponsors, and everyone who helped you put together the event. This is the time to post photos and videos on your social media pages, contact the media and share photos and videos they may have, tag, and cross-reference or share with guests  who are now following you on social media and who also may have photos or videos of the event.

Present the ceremonial groundbreaking shovels used in the ceremony to each of the persons who wielded them. For this, CeremonialSupplies.com has groundbreaking shovel display cases that will protect and display the ceremonial shovel as a keepsake for a long time to come.

Shop CeremonialSupplies.com for all your groundbreaking or grand opening supplies. Our products are of high quality, at budget friendly prices, and we ship everywhere in the world. Click here for a shipping quote.

Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but the quality of life is tops, so if you're an event planner or event organizer tasked with putting together a groundbreaking ceremony in the Ocean State, let CeremonialSupplies.com guide you! Rhode Island with its beautiful sea side mansions represents the gilded history of our country, making our VIP Golden groundbreaking shovels ideal for Rhode Island groundbreakings. In Rhode Island, where quality is more important than quantity, and people are discriminating and exigent when it comes to public events, including first sod-cuttings and grand openings, CeremonialSupplies.com is the go-to resource for all the necessary products!

A tiny State big in culture, history, education, and class, Rhode Island is a haven for those who wish an environmentally friendly atmosphere drenched in an opulent architectural background. Most of Rhode Islanders work in hospitals, pharmacies, and health insurance companies, and even with ship and submarine manufacturing, and tourism all contributing to the GDP, construction and development aren't taking the economy by storm as they are in other states. No matter, CeremonialSupplies.com, the best online store where you can find everything you need for a groundbreaking ceremony, a grand opening event, a military ball, or any other celebratory occasion offers crafted quality products that are perfect for Rhode Island's distinctly well-bred and classic style! From groundbreaking shovels, hard hats, grand opening ribbons, ceremonial ribbon-cutting scissors, to flag display cases, event carpet runners, medals and plaques, stanchions and rope and all things ceremonial, our crafted quality products will make your event shine.

3 Important Steps For Organizing a Groundbreaking Ceremony in Rhode Island

Step One - Choosing a Date and Inviting People is the first important step for organizing a groundbreaking ceremony in Rhode Island, or anywhere else for that matter! The first sod-cutting takes place before construction begins and this means that you have from the moment the land is purchased and officially owned, up until the day when construction begins to gather your guests for the celebration. Remember, groundbreakings are essentially, architectural rituals, and you don't need to be a numerology expert to know that numbers have an important role in ritualistic ceremonies. We recommend reviewing birthdays, anniversaries, and specific personal dates to chose the most meaningful day and time for the event. The fact that your business has reached the point of a groundbreaking is a landmark accomplishment and should be treated as such. Create several lists, (with space for notes!) they will serve you well! Aside from the VIPs of your business or company, invite local government officials. Providence is no more than an hour away from any other location in Rhode Island. This means if your sod-cutting ceremony is in Cranston, Pawtucket, Westerly, Woonsocket, Warwick or Newport you have a great chance of having Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo attend the event! The involvement of government officials adds prestige, and guarantees the press! Speaking of which, you may want to take an ad on one or more local papers. The Providence Journal or Providence Business News, Newport Daily News, the Westerly Sun, Warren Times-Gazette, Narragansett Times, Jamestown Press and others are all established newspapers with good circulation that will help you get the word out!

Step Two - Shop CeremonialSupplies.com for the perfect groundbreaking shovel for your event. All our ceremonial sod-cutting shovels are crafted to the highest standards and materials. The "head" of a shovel consists of the blade (also called the "scoop") and a socket. All CeremonialSupplies.com shovel heads are made from stainless steel. This means it will not rust or stain, and its original shine will be long-lasting. Ceremonial shovels are full size shovels measuring 42" in height with a 9" blade width and a D-style handle grip. The D-style grip is specific to ceremonial shovels in order to enable a particular holding position deemed best for the purpose of posing for photos or videos. With the exception of the traditional style, long stem (no grip handle) ceremonial groundbreaking shovel, all CeremonialSupplies.com sod-cutting shovels have D-style grip. The Standard Chromed Stainless Steel Groundbreaking Shovel has a polished steel blade and an all-wood D-style grip; the Deluxe Ceremonial Groundbreaking Chrome Shovel has a polished chrome finish with a steel and wood grip; the Groundbreaking VIP Mirror Chrome Ceremonial Shovel has a more labor intensive process of mirror polish so fine that you can see your reflection, and the VIP Ceremonial Groundbreaking Mirror Gold shovel, our top of the line ceremonial shovel, has a highly polished golden mirror finish and it is the perfect groundbreaking shovel for a sod-cutting event for the aristocratic architecture of Rhode Island. In addition to the classic groundbreaking shovels, CeremonialSupplies.com also offers colorful ceremonial shovels with shiny, glossy color in blue, red, yellow, teal, pink, and orange blades. For sod-cutting ceremonies where children will take part, we also have an assortment of miniature-size shovels 26" tall with a 6" blade width. These color shovels are available in the same glossy finish of the full-size color shovels, and both the full size and mini size shovels have D-style metal grips. Our mini shovels are also very popular as a keepsake presented to key persons in the organization.

Step Three - Create a display with the ceremonial shovels, hard hat, display stand or dirt box, and ribbons and bows. CeremonialSupplies.com offers groundbreaking kits. A fully dressed groundbreaking shovels means it has a ribbon or a bow at the stem and the hard hat is set upon the shovel grip. The convenience of a groundbreaking shovel display stand is that it holds the ceremonial shovels in place for everyone to see, before they are actually used, and then after the ceremony. Whether there is just one ceremonial shovel or five, or six according to the number of people who will participate in the event, setting up a display of the ceremonial shovels creates an ideal spot for official photographs, or video. As we said before, the VIP golden shovel matches the gilded history of the Ocean State and is appropriate for a Rhode Island groundbreaking. Whether in Providence, Cranston, Pawtucket, Westerly, Woonsocket, Warwick or Newport, the location is sure to be surrounded by architectural structures reminiscent of Rhode Island's rich aristocratic cultural past. If you want to truly escalate your event, consider using an event carpet runner in front of the groundbreaking shovels display with a step and repeat backdrop behind the ceremonial shovels. If the event attracts a large crowd, using stanchions and rope will keep the flow of traffic streamlined at the photo station.

Rhode Island has a rich architectural and literary presence, with some of the most famous mansions in the country set in places like Providence and Newport such as the Lippitt House. John Brown House, The Breakers, Rosecliff, and the Chateau-sur-Mer which may present a creative idea to host a celebratory toast after the groundbreaking event. John Jake's "The Gods of Newport," or Alissa Maxwell's "Murder at the Breakers," certainly prove that inspiration and creativity abounds in Rhode Island and CeremonialSupplies.com has all the tools and products you need to create an unforgettable groundbreaking event that will set the tone of the future endeavor of your company or business. Shop CeremonialSupplie.com and enjoy our budget friendly prices, our knowledgeable and attentive customer service, and our prompt and efficient shipping anywhere you are from Woonsocket to Westerly and everywhere else in between (and all over the world!). Click here for a shipping quote.