About Our Blog

My blog is for those planning their events and for those who like to attend events. Whether your event is big (weddings, bar/bat mitzvah, anniversary parties, milestone birthdays, etc.) or small (dinner parties, cocktail affairs, etc.) we have something for you.

Come visit my blog for "everything events!" Need tips on how to save on your wedding? Want to know what DC-area galas, festivals, fundraisers are going on? Want to find out about Trunk shows, Bridal shows, Mitzvah shows, Expos, and Venue Open Houses? Need tips on planning your dinner party? Need a Diamond Ring Shopping 101? Want to learn about different DC-area vendors and venues? Recently engaged and need advice on how to get started? Want to get ideas from some Cristina Maria weddings and events? Want to view some inspirational pictures of our favorites things to possibly spark an idea for your event theme? You have come to the right place.

Come and visit often!

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Friday, January 15, 2010

2010 Bridal & Bar/Bat Mitzvah Showcases

Find a handy listing of the DC, Maryland, Northern Virginia showcase and expositions for brides-to-be and b'nai mitzvah-to-be.

Please refer back to this posting frequently for updates on showcases and expos for 2010. More and more will be added throughout the year.

Bridal

  • Saturday, January 16, 2010 at Hilton Alexandria at Mark Center (Alexandria, VA) 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (ticket price $7 online and $9 at door)

  • Sunday, January 17 at Martin's Corsswinds (Greenbelt, MD) 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (ticket price $8 online and $10 at door)
  • Sunday, January 24 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center (Bethesda, MD) 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (ticket price $8 online and $10 at door)
  • Sunday, January 31 at Dulles Expo Center (Chantilly, VA) 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (ticket price $8 online and $10 at door)
  • Sunday, April 18 at Patriot Center @ George Mason University (Fairfax, VA) 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (ticket price $8 online and $10 at door)
TO GET FREE TICKETS: The Wedding Dance Specialists is giving away free tickets to the Washington Bridal Showcase. All you have to do is become a fan to their page on Facebook,then email (info@theweddingdancespecialists.com), call (703-626-7016), or send them a private Facebook message with your mailing address, indicate which Bridal Show date you plan to attend, and then they will send you a free ticket. Limit one per fan. You can find about a lot of DC-area events, savings, and more. For example, they just announced on the Fan page that they will be running a Valentine's Day Sale on dance lessons soon.

Creative Cakes Open House (Silver Spring, MD) 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (FREE admission just register online):
  • Sunday, January 17, 2010
  • Sunday, February 21, 2010
  • Sunday, March 21, 2010
  • Thursday, April 18, 2010
  • Sunday, May 16, 2010
  • Sunday, June 20, 2010
  • Sunday, July 18, 2010
  • Sunday, August 15, 2010
  • Sunday, September 19, 2010
  • Sunday, October 17, 2010
  • Sunday, November 21, 2010

  • Sunday, January 24, 2010 at Mandarin Oriental Washington DC (Washington, DC) 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (ticket price $55 online only)

  • Sunday, January 31 at Glenview Mansion at Rockville Civic Center Park (Rockville, MD) 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (ticket price $5 at door only)

  • Sunday, January 31 at Newton White Mansion (Mitchellville, MD) 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (ticket price $5 at door only)

Wedding Wednesdays (for vendors and brides):
  • First Wednesday of each month at Seasons Cards and Gifts at the Marketplace at Madison Crescent (Gainesville, VA) 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (no admission)
ADDRESS: 8014 Crescent Park Dr, Gainesville, VA 20155

  • Thursday, February 4, 2010 at Bethesda Marriott (Bethesda, MD) 6:45 p.m. (tickets are FREE just contact The Pros here for your ticket)
  • Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at Waterford at Fair Oaks (Fairfax, VA) 6:45 p.m. (tickets are FREE just contact The Pros here for your ticket)
  • Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at Martin's Crosswinds (Greenbelt, MD) 6:45 p.m. (tickets are FREE just contact The Pros here for your ticket)
  • Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at Waterford at Springfield (Springfield, VA) 6:45 p.m. (tickets are FREE just contact The Pros here for your ticket)
  • Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at Bethesda Marriott (Bethesda, MD) 6:45 p.m. (tickets are FREE just contact The Pros here for your ticket)
  • Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at Waterford at Fair Oaks (Fairfax, VA) 6:45 p.m. (tickets are FREE just contact The Pros here for your ticket)
  • Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at Martin's Crosswinds (Greenbelt, MD) 6:45 p.m. (tickets are FREE just contact The Pros here for your ticket)
  • Thursday, April 15, 2010 at Waterford at Springfield (Springfield, VA) 6:45 p.m. (tickets are FREE just contact The Pros here for your ticket)
  • Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at Bethesda Marriott (Bethesda, MD) 6:45 p.m. (tickets are FREE just contact The Pros here for your ticket)
For a list of their showcases in the Baltimore and Annapolis area click here.

  • RESCHEDULE (because of Feb. '10 snowapocalypse) from Friday, February 5 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. to Sunday, March 28, 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at The Four Seasons Hotel, The Hay-Adams, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis Hotel, and The Willard Intercontinental Hotel (Washington, DC) (ticket price $65 online only)

  • RESCHEDULE (because of Feb. '10 snowapocalypse) from Saturday, February 6 to Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at Stephen Decatur House Museum (Washington, DC) 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (ticket price $25 or $35 at door - 2 different prices listed online)

Northern Virginia Bridal Event at Stonewall Golf Club:
  • Sunday, February 3, 2010 at Stonewall Golf Club (Gainesville, VA) 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (FREE admission)

  • Sunday, February 21, 2010 at Hilton Washington DC North/Gaithersburg (Gaithersburg, MD) 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (ticket price FREE just need to register here)

Wedding Expo 2010:
  • Sunday, February 21, 2010 at Wyndham Garden Inn (Gaithersburg, MD)

Rock the Launch of Weddzilla (for vendors and brides):

Hosted by Weddzilla’s Sassiest Wedding Guru, Steve Kemble, a Red Carpet Correspondent for the American Music Awards and Golden Globes, star on TLC’s “Battle of the Wedding Planners”, and contributor to Us Weekly Magazine’s Fashion Police.

Cristina Maria Special Events is a Launch Partner! Stop by to enjoy with us some specialty cocktails, culinary creations, celebrity meet-and-greets, and a silent auction with all proceeds benefiting The Children’s National Medical Center.
  • Saturday, February 27, 2010 at Fort Belvoir Officers' Club (Fort Belvoir, VA) 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (ticket price $7 at door only)

  • Sunday, February 28, 2010 at Sheraton Crystal City Hotel (Arlington, VA) 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (FREE admission)

A Chic Affair Bridal Showcase (top DC event professionals) - includes a RUNWAY FASHION SHOW:
  • Sunday, March 21, 2010 at Long View Gallery (Washington, DC) 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (ticket price $30 online only and $35 online only if purchase after February 1st)



Cristina Maria Special Events will be there with one of my preferred caterers, MK Catering Inc.!!!!!! Make sure you come by to check out MK Catering's exquisite food and presentation!

Spring Bridal Showcase at Kentlands Mansion:
  • Sunday, March 21, 2010 at Kentlands Mansion (Gaithersburg, MD) 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (tickets $5 at door only)

  • Thursday, June 10, 2010 at Pier 5 Hotel/Harbor Magic (Baltimore, MD) 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Spring 2010 Preview Event (for brides, event planners, and vendors):
Come by to say hi as I will be there! Cristina Maria Special Events is co-hosting with Rooftop at Rockville Town Center and MK Catering Inc.! It is an opportunity for brides, event planners, vendors alike to check out some of newest and freshest services and products, view 2010-2011 hot trends, and meet the exclusive list of event planners and vendors that will be invited to this special event. All while enjoy drinks, a food tasting, and more!

  • TBD


Mitzvah Madness:

  • Sunday, February 21, 2010 at Hilton Washington DC North/Gaithersburg (Gaithersburg, MD) 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (ticket price FREE just need to register here)

Mitzvah Zone '10:

  • TBD

****TIP****

Don't know which vendors to work with? Not sure you will be able to see past the booths and promotional displays to see in fact who will provide you with the best quality for the best price? If you hired me you would not need to go to the expos. As we all know and have learned, referrals guarantee a level of excellence in service. Save money and the hassle by hiring an Event Planner.

Expos can feel overwhelming with the crowds and inundation of information. Because of the number of vendors at the expos, it may not afford you the time to really get to know all the vendors, their vartiety of products and services, their quality of service, and their pricing options.

Just let me know what you have in mind for your wedding, bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah, or special event and I can recommend the venues and vendors that are right for you. I am happy to be your Wedding Planner, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Planner, or Day of Coordinator. Vendor Referrals are just one of the services I provide in my partial planning and full service planning packages. Let me help you by referring the right vendors and venues that fit your needs, style, and budget.

It helps to know a return customer (that's me!) that is familiar with the vendors out of the seemingly endless list that is available in the DC area. I can help narrow down that long list to the key vendors who would work best with you and your vision.

Contact me, Cristina Curcio of Cristina Maria Special Events, today at info@cristinamariaevents.com or 301-938-8383 for more information about what I can do for you to lessen the hassle and stress of wedding planning, bar/bat mitzvah planning, and day of coordination. I am a professional perfectionist and organizer so I am prepared to take on the burden for you. Enjoy your engagement or at the very least the last month before your special day!

Happy planning!

CRISTINA MARIA SPECIAL EVENTS
Making events uniquely YOU!