Life's journey... through our eyes

It has been a very busy week for us, from designing and creating wedding event decor to creating wreaths and decorating a laying-in-state. It certainly brings with it a whole lot of emotions... From joy and laughter, to a more somber and reflective mood.

With every event that we design and decorate, we realize more and more how our services impact life events - Baby showers, birthdays, weddings, promotions, 'just because', funerals... It is these events that give us pause, and remind us that everyday is a gift and that we should appreciate and maximize every minute of it. we should celebrate life while we can, and not get bogged down by things around us that we have no control over.

We certainly hope that you live life to the fullest, so that when you look back on your life many years from now you can smile and say to yourself "I lived my life the best I could... I did my very best"

We hope you all had a great week, and hope you have an awesome weekend!!! Cheers!

"Bleeding Heart" wreath by Christine's Creatives

A plethora of THANKS to you - our fans & customers!

Decor by Christine's Creatives

If you are one of our facebook fans, you probably noticed that we decorated a wedding over the weekend. It was a beautiful wedding, and we were honored (as we always are) to be invited to decorate the event. 

As is normal with most event decor projects, there were situations that tested our resolve to 'make it happen' (we call it the Naija effect :) ). Thankfully, with all the experience we've accumulated over the years, it was easy to be patient, proactive and creative in dealing with unforseen situations and curve balls. The icing on the cake for us, were the many compliments and thanks we got from the guests and families of the couple.

In turn, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our readers, fans and customers who have supported us over the years. Your likes, comments, emails, orders and phone calls have kept us going over the years and we truly appreciate you. Without you we wouldn't be here today, and we recognize that. Muah!

Please feel free to leave us a comment or send us an email about ways in which we can make your experience with us even better. Our customers always come first! Thanks again and we look forward to many more years of service to you. Bless.

Related articles

• Centerpieces: Your event is your own production... make it a true reflection of you (christinescreatives.com)
• Wedding flowers...It's all in the details (christinescreatives.com)
• Essential tools for event planning (christinescreatives.com)

Centerpieces: Your event is your own production... make it a true reflection of you

As we wait patiently for the Great Gatsby to be released in movies tonight, we figured we would write a Gatsby themed blog today about centerpieces.

As we all know (hopefully), it is important that your guests feel welcome when they attend an event that you are hosting. Food is a universal way of making guests feel welcome at your home or event, and so is the ambiance you create. You want guests to leave with pleasant experiences that they'll talk about with nostalgia for years to come. Think about the Oscars or the MET gala - its the creativity in the fashion, the music, the decor, the venue - pretty much the whole production that keeps people talking and keeps these events newsworthy. Your event is your own production. It leaves an impression in people's minds of the kind of individual you may be.

Using centerpieces on guest tables is one of the ways to create a comfortable welcoming atmosphere for your guests. Items that can be used for centerpieces are only limited by your imagination. Flowers, decorative birdcages, lanterns, fruit bowls, framed pictures, crystals, candles, gold fishes, feathers .... Anything really.
Ok well, maybe not everything. There a few things you may want to consider before selecting your centerpieces:
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What type of bouquet should a bride carry?

Bouquets by Christine's Creatives Nigeria Limited

Most brides around the world choose to carry a bouquet on their wedding day. Brides typically select the style and size of their bouquet based on how elaborate or simple the wedding dress is going to be. For example, cascade styled bouquets are typically paired with wedding gowns that have a long train, while nosegay bouquets are typically matched with simple styled wedding dresses. The fan bouquet has also made a comeback and has been spotted at quite a few weddings this year. An excellent

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Revlon Entice 190 - My new favorite nail color :)

Revlon Entice 190 - My new favorite nail color :). 

The original topic I wanted to blog about today was "Celebrity bouquet look a-likes". I planned to look for nice Nigerian celebrity wedding bouquet pictures online, was going to compare them to pictures of wedding bouquets made by Christine's Creatives, and then write about how to plan a Nigerian celebrity wedding on a budget... Wellll that didn't happen now did it? I started my research for wedding pictures, and celebrity wedding after celebrity wedding, all i could find was major DRAMA. Kai!! From stories of Nollywood stars who married other people's husbands, to a Nollywood actor who was planning a 'secret' second wedding - without the knowledge of the first wife (*Akiyesi God is watching you in 3D!). Seeing as I couldn't find any drama-free Nigerian celebrity, I figured I would write about my new favorite nail color - Revlon Entice 190!
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For brides with natural hair

For brides with natural hair, it is sometimes challenging to decide how to style your hair for your wedding day. While browsing, we found a few bridal hairstyles that we think may inspire you.

These natural hair bridal pictures are from Munaluchi Bride Magazine - a bridal magazine that provides inspiration for women of color. Their print publication is released twice a year, and they provide updates on their website in between issues.

Read more »

Essential tools for event planning

Essential tools for event planning... Whether you are a seasoned event planner or a bride planning her wedding, it is essential to know what tools you have available to you. There are tons of tools available to make the event planning process easier, and we will be featuring one of our favorites today - the 3D Event and Space Design Application by EVENTS clique.

3D Event designer allows you to design an event space in 2D or 3D by dragging and
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We absolutely love weddings!!!

Planning and designing weddings is quite a bit of work - but very well worth it if an event turns out the way you envisioned it.... as we like to say, "its all in the details..."

Event Decor by Christine's Creatives Nigeria Limited

Time management and vendor management are two key factors that can make the difference between a well planned event, and a not so well planned event. Which means, if you are going to be using the services of an event planner, you may want to ensure you check their references first - These days it is easy to get a sense of what kind of vendor you are hiring by checking them out on social networking sites such as facebook and twitter. 
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First Impressions... closing the deal - or maybe not.

Flowers at office receptions or waiting areas
create an inviting environment for potential clients

"How you come across to others is too important to be left to chance. - Phil Geldart"

When a client walks through the doors of your office, what do you think their first impression is? Do they walk into an unkempt yard or an uninviting office? Or has your organization mastered the art of managing your clients experiences from end to end?

If your goal is to close the deal, then you may want to ensure that your client's experience from the first time they come in contact with your organization, up until the time they make their decision, is very well managed - by you.

Interestingly enough, it is the little things that will differentiate you from your competition. You and the competition may have the same products, but the way you treat a potential customer may be the deal-maker or deal-breaker. 

Here are 3 quick tips you may want to consider:

• Sound professional when you (or the receptionist) pick(s) up a phone call. This is usually the first opportunity the customer has to make an opinion about your organization. When the phone is picked up, ensure that there is no distracting background noise, and that there is a quick salutation, introduction and offer to help. This assures the caller that you are engaged in the conversation and willing to provide answers/solutions to their inquiries/problems. 

• Ensure your organization's office space is clean and very well manicured. Make the environment as inviting as possible. Consider simple things such as, ensuring there is hand soap/hand towels in the washrooms, offering cookies and drinks in the waiting area, putting fresh or silk flower arrangements in the waiting area and providing complimentary magazines for your guests to read while waiting. 

• Present your products to the client - with Confidence. In short, this is your opportunity to shine. You need to let the client know that you understand the problem and that you have a solution. If you are having a face to face discussion with the client, ensure you are sitting or standing up straight (no slouching) and maintain eye contact. If you are asked a question you do not know the answer to, be honest about it and assure the client that you will get back to him/her within a specified timeframe - make sure it is a realistic timeframe so that you can keep your promise. At the end of the meeting make sure you re-iterate your understanding of the clients need and your ability to meet that need. 

• Then Close the Deal. Ask the client how soon they need your services, and advice him/her of your availability. If you were unable to close the deal at the meeting, ask how soon they intend to make a decision and then follow up within the timeframe they specified. Make sure you request their contact information and send a note of thanks after the meeting. 

As we all know, closing the deal has a lot to do with 'how you package the product'. However, closing the next deal with the same customer is about 'how you delivered on the original deal'.

Related articles

• #NewLeadership Series with Chude Jideonwo: Don't Get It Twisted, Anger is Good (bellanaija.com)
• Maximizing Your Business Touchpoints (cosmeticbusinessmd.com)
• How to make a good first impression in business (marketingbydesign101.wordpress.com)
• Are You Creating A Sense Of Urgency With Your Customers? (business2community.com)

Creativity at work!

Creating a Floral gift arrangement and
Elegant tall centerpieces for a wedding

 




Our owner and CEO, Mrs. Y.A. Oluwole doing what she loves doing: designing and creating beautiful centerpieces.  She is such a hands-on boss - we learn from her everyday.  #thebestbossever!          

Creating Exquisite floor floral arrangements

One of our top florists and designers creating exquisite floral arrangements on site. #creativityatwork

Related articles

• Wedding flowers...It's all in the details (christinescreatives.com)
• We absolutely love weddings!!! (christinescreatives.com)

Rebranding

  Work in progress - Shop Front 1

rebranding (ˌriːˈbrændɪŋ) - the process of giving a product or an organization a new image, in order to make it more attractive or successful.

We are currently in the process of rebranding from Rareflowers Nigeria Limited  to Christine's Creatives Nigeria Limited. As part of the rebranding process, we are reemphasizing our corporate culture, diversifying our product offerings, changing our marketing strategy, and upgrading the physical image of our stores.

Our goal is to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers, and to provide a positive work environment that encourages professional growth for our employees.

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