Wedding Trends for 2014

Intimacy over grandeur

While weddings with copious amounts of pomp and pageantry will never go completely away, smaller weddings of a quaint and mellow nature are on the rise. The subtle grace of intimate weddings is a welcome breath of fresh air in a grand and life-changing occasion. Indeed, weddings are a veritable feast for the senses; 2014 brings an increasing prominence of pastels, metallics, and different textural elements on wedding cakes and stationery. Crystal and silver vessels will be in demand for floral centerpieces lend an air of retro elegance, while many-petaled tree peonies radiate a certain lush softness that is exquisitely romantic.

Nowadays, environmentally friendly couples can now choose floral arrangements using locally grown flowers and organic products such as upcycled wood containers and burlap table runners. World-famous multinational retail giant Marks and Spencer recently launched their very first floral exhibit at the 100th Annual RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Organized every year by the Royal Horticultural Society, the 2013 edition of this prestigious flower expo featured a theme of a sustainable, greener future. The M&S Sustainability Garden – presented by sustainability ambassador Joanna Lumley and in partnership with award-winning Sallis Chandler Landscape Designers & Gardeners and Kenyan horticultural brand Finlays – was created to demonstrate the different processes in sustainable flower production.

Subtle grace in floral arrangements and centerpieces are a wedding trend to watch in 2014.

Subtle grace in floral arrangements and centerpieces are a wedding trend to watch in 2014.

Setting up a small-scale reception in a unique venue is another big trend that is rapidly gaining popularity. Instead of worrying about the logistics of feeding and organizing a thousand people, limiting the guest count to a maximum of 100 while enjoying the festivities on a rooftop terrace, countryside inn, or upscale bistro just makes for a decidedly more memorable experience. This intimacy can also be applied to destination weddings in enchanting locales such as France’s Hattonchatel Chateau and the Caribbean island of St. Lucia.

Clearly, an intimate wedding set on a Caribbean island with around 100 pastel-garbed guests enjoying the sight of thousand-petaled tree peonies on crystal vases is timely, appropriate, and most importantly, romantic.

This is a guest post uniquely written for publication on Bridal Hot List.

Four Reasons to Avoid Setting Wedding Date on Super Bowl Sunday

Last Sunday, the National Football League held their championship game, better known as the Super Bowl. It is the biggest sporting event in the United States and happens once a year, typically the first Sunday in February. While non-sports fans may not care too much about the big game, the Super Bowl gets an estimated 105+ million viewers each year. Given that one out of three Americans watch the game, the new commercials, and the big halftime show, it’s always best not to make plans on that Sunday. In this article we’ll examine five reasons why brides should avoid setting their wedding date on Super Bowl Sunday.

Reason 1: Keep Your Groom Happy

Sure, you could record the game, but sports scores never stay a secret and the exciting thing about sports is never knowing the outcome until the game is over. Many guys, and even families, make an event out of the entire day, getting together for lunch while the pregame show is airing and sticking around through the game. Your groom might be (probably is!) a huge football fan and taking away his traditions and ability to see the big game is too much of a sacrifice to ask. Sure, you are the number one thing in life, but why force him to prove it when there are 364 other days in the year?

Reason 2: Attendance At Your Wedding

If you book your wedding on the same day as the Super Bowl, you might be shocked at the number of people that end up declining your RSVP or fail to show up at all. Many people travel to be with family or with old friends for the big game. Since this is a yearly event that has become as big as any religious or federal holiday in America, most people are unwilling to change their regular plans to attend an event on a date they believe you shouldn’t have picked in the first place.

Reason 3: Getting Help Will Be Hard to Find

Your groom and your guests will not be the only ones less than enthusiastic about having a wedding on Super Bowl Sunday. If you want to hire a great DJ, or good catering, or an events company that rents tables and chairs, some might decline the business because they want to enjoy the big day. This means finding a good deal and having your choice of vendors will be much harder.

Reason 4: Distractions During Your Wedding

Sure, they might actually show up. But in today’s era of WiFi and High Speed Cellular internet networks. as well as the ability to stream video, folks will either be listening or even watching the game at your wedding. Whether it is on their smartphone or their tablet, fans will find a way to stay up to date with their game and if there is a big play, people will distract from the wedding to watch or celebrate a big play.

Five Magical Disneyland Spots to Propose

What is more magical, than an actual magic kingdom? What is more memorable than the moment one proposes to their significant other? Now ask yourself, what happens when you combine those two questions? Yes, your mind might actually explode thinking about the possibilities, but the folks here at Bridal Hot List have some amazing suggestions for you. In this article we are going to combine the magic of Disneyland along with the amazing moment where one proposes to their true love. Read on to hear our top five magical Disneyland spots to propose!

Cinderella’s Castle

Cinderella’s Castle is the iconic castle seen in almost every picture, commercial, and piece of Disney material in the world. This gorgeous structure sits smack dab in the middle of the Disneyland theme park and is often crowded by tourists looking to get a perfect picture. What is great for park visitors is that Disney often has professional photographers ready and willing to take a photo of you using their camera and yours so that you can save that magical moment forever. Well, imagine if they just happened to capture the moment where you got on one knee and proposed? That would be as magical a moment as they come.

Chief Editor Niloufar Gibson is a huge Disneyland fan! Here she is taking a photo in front of Cinderella's Castle, an amazing spot to propose!

Chief Editor Niloufar Gibson is a huge Disneyland fan! Here she is taking a photo in front of Cinderella’s Castle, an amazing spot to propose!

King Arthur Carousel

The carousel at Disneyland is directly behind Cinderella’s Castle and is another iconic piece of history. Did you know that it was featured in a telecast celebrating Disneyland’s opening back in 1955? Since then it has been refurbished and kept in pristine condition, while maintaining a nostalgic old-world feel. What a wonderful memory it would be for one person standing next to someone riding a horse while the carousel went around to pull out a ring and propose? It would be magical, and a moment to relive every single time you came back to Disneyland.

It’s A Small World – Holiday Season

Have you ever seen the Holiday Season of the ride “It’s a Small World” at Disneyland? It is amazing! Not only is this the cutest ride of all time, it also happens to be a great spot to propose, especially if you let the folks know ahead of time your big plans and get your own boat. You could even do it outside, while at night, to enjoy the amazing light show. It’s gorgeous, cute, and sure to make a lasting impression to stay with you forever.

Did you know about the Holiday Season for It's a Small World? It's gorgeous!

Did you know about the Holiday Season for It’s a Small World? It’s gorgeous!

Outside New Orleans Square Next to Rivers of America at 9pm

Okay, we know that is a VERY specific place to be at a very specific time. What you will want to do is head over near where Pirates of the Caribbean is at in New Orleans Square and head over towards where you would go for Tom Sawyer’s Island. You will notice a LOT of people over there starting at 8pm, because Disneyland has an amazing fireworks show at 9pm EVERY NIGHT! Just imagine being at Disneyland, under the stars, listening to amazing music, with fireworks going over your heads and proposing? That would be a moment that all other couples would be jealous of!

Tomorrowland: A Star Wars Engagement

Okay, this one is reserved only for the geekiest couples out there, obviously! But just imagine two huge Star Wars fans hanging out with iconic characters such as Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Chewbacca, or even CP3O and R2-D2, and proposing in front of them and all the Star Wars fans? That dream can actually come true because actors dress up as characters from the Star Wars universe and visit people at Star Tours, or more likely, will appear for pictures and autographs at the Jedi Academy area, which is also where you can pick up a good slice of pizza.  Sure, this is not conventional by any means, but where else in the galaxy are you going to have Darth Vader appear in your engagement session photos?

For Star Wars geeks, being able to include Sith Lord Darth Vader at your engagement would be a story that nobody would forget!

For Star Wars geeks, being able to include Sith Lord Darth Vader at your engagement would be a story that nobody would forget!

Top Five Island Honeymoon Destinations

Going on an island honeymoon is the dream of just about every newlywed couple. An island offers gorgeous beaches, exotic foods, and privacy. Many couples just assume that Hawaii is the best place to go and that is where they book their trip. While Hawaii just might be the best spot on Earth, there are multiple islands that make up the Hawaiian Islands, as well as many other amazing destinations you can look into. Here are our Top Five Island Honeymoon destinations!

#1 – Bora Bora, Society Islands

Bora Bora is in the Society Islands of French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean. The island is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef and in the center of the island is the remnants of an extinct volcano with two peaks. A major tourist destination, the island has a permanent population of just under 9,000 inhabitants. There are many resorts that have sprung up over the last ten years, with Hotel Bora Bora being the first resort to feature over-water bungalows. You can get to Bora Bora on flights with Air Tahiti.

#2 –  Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is a sovereign island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea and is northwest of Barbados. It has a population over 174,000 and the official language spoken is English. What makes Saint Lucia so amazing are the pristine beaches, cobalt blue oceans, and the amazing lush green landscape inside the interior of the island, which includes a few golf courses. The island nation is home to some of the best resorts in the world, with plenty of water-sports activities and island tours to whet your appetite for adventure.

#3 – Bali, Indonesia

Bali is an island and the smallest of the provinces that make up Indonesia. It is described as a paradise with a spiritual nature, along with earning the reputation as having the best surf in the entire world. The population of Bali is 3.8 million and most of the residents practice Balinese Hinduism. The island is well known for its well developed arts, including dance, sculpture, painting, leather, metalworking, and music. There are many amazing resorts to enjoy the surf, sand, and culture of this haven.

#4 – Manafaru, Maldives

Manafaru is one of the islands that makes up the Republic of Maldives. This small island is more like a giant resort, featuring 83 villas, half of which are perched over water. If Manfaru isn’t in your plans, look into other islands in Maldives. There are 300,000 inhabitants on the 185 islands, with the biggest sector of the economy being tourism. The islands feature many resorts, totaling over 92 as of 2007, many of which feature over-the-water bungalows for people to stay in.

#5 – Kaua’i, Hawaii

Kaua’i is the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands and is 562 square miles in size. Thanks to its volcanic origins, this might be one of the most lush and breathtaking islands in the world. One of the must-see places on Earth sits on this island in the form of Waimea Canyon. At 3,000 feet deep, Waimea Canyon is often referred to as “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific” and is sure to take your breath away. There are many small towns on the island, many of which cater to resorts that tourists stay in. If you love breathtaking canyon views, contrasted by gorgeous scenic ocean views, then Kaua’i is the place for you.

Top Five Island Honeymoon Destinations

A picture of me at iconic Kaua’i location Waimea Canyon in Hawaii

Tips for a Perfect Wedding Day

Planning a wedding can be intricate and overwhelming, whether it be for a loved one, or for you. The selected tips in this article can help you shed new light on options you may have not thought of, and help you to organize the perfect wedding.
Understand that religious faith will influence both what your wedding looks like and your relationship going forward. It may help to discuss this with your families so that they understand how you plan on handling dual faiths in your marriage.
When wedding planning, think about what alcohol you want to serve, how you want to serve it, and try to be cost efficient. Just letting people drink all they want can really add up, especially if the reception lasts a long time. The venue representative will be able to advise you of the various alcohol service options available.
When you decide who you want to give the speeches during the reception, ask them to read them to you so you know they are appropriate. If there are going to be different generations there, you don’t want to offend anyone.
The photos taken during your wedding are important as you’ll look at these a lot of times during your lifetime. It pays to spend the extra cash to hire a wedding photographer in order to reduce the chance of some amateur screwing up your wedding photos.
The most important part of marriage is the person you plan on marrying. Do not make a hasty decision. See your partner as she really is–the good and the bad. Think not only about the reasons you love her, but all her bad habits and quirks that might irritate you after months or years together.
Your vows are very important for a very momentous occasion so make sure you take time to write them to perfection. It’s important to understand that a marriage is a strong commitment that takes both of you making sacrifices. Of course, the most important thing for vows to convey is your love for your partner.
For any stylish and fashion forward bride, there is always the option to add some flare to a bouquet with a splash of diamonds, rhinestones or Swarovski crystals. This is easy to do at home; you can just use some heat-fixed crystals or adhesives, some costume jewelry or even attach a heirloom piece. To ensure that it coordinates with the rest of your ensemble, be consistent in terms of sparkling colors, cut, and size of the stones.
Midday is your best bet for planning a wedding reception. People drink less during this time and you will not spend as much on alcohol. By having a lunch reception, the costs for food will also normally be less expensive. This could allow you to put the money saved towards other services required for your wedding.
Now that you know the fundamentals of wedding planning, you can apply the ideas presented here to manifest a personalized experience. Applying these tips can make your wedding planning hassle free, and give your guests, and yourself, an experience you will treasure forever.

300th Post – A Retrospective of Bridal Hot List

On behalf of Niloufar and the entire roster of talented writers at Bridal Hot List, we’d like to thank our readers for continually checking in with the hottest growing blog about the bridal industry on the internet. For those of you that don’t know, this site is the brainchild of popular Orange County Wedding Coordinator Niloufar Gibson. While there are a ton of great blogs about weddings out there, nobody would ever focus on the latest and greatest tips for brides and weddings. While most would focus on general information that was fairly helpful, Niloufar’s goal was to create a site where brides and other coordinators could read about the very latest trends.

It’s almost been a year since Bridal Hot List debuted and the site continues to grow leaps and bounds. The staff’s efforts have led to wonderful relationships with national brands such as TLC and Nordstrom, making the way for incredible features exclusively posted here about the latest trends in the industry. As the site continues to grow, more of these relationships will manifest, resulting in more amazing content to be featured here each and every day.

That brings up another great aspect about the site that is a testament to Niloufar’s dedication. Ever since the site launched, a new story has appeared every single day at BridalHotlist.com for readers to enjoy. To do that, it’s taken a lot of hard work, commitment and creativity which are all traits that Niloufar and the entire BHL team has shown day in and day out. On behalf of myself and the entire BHL team, we’d like to thank Niloufar for her dedication toward the site and her amazing leadership she’s demonstrated over the last year.

A new element that has been rolled out in recent months is the Bridal Hot List: Vendor Hot Pick award program. Vendors are able to apply to the site to be considered for the program and are rated by our staff on many different criteria for quality. Based off of our research and combined with the relevance of the latest industry trends, a vendor can be given this award and are welcome to display on their site or other properties. BHL will be heavily promoting the Vendor Hot Pick program in Q3 of 2013 and beyond, giving vendors a tremendous opportunity to make a name for themselves in the industry and to our thousands of unique monthly readers.

The future of Bridal Hot List is looking especially bright. Recently we’ve accepted approximately a half dozen new writers to the stable, all of which bring incredible insight and unique flair. With such a diverse set of perspectives, BHL has more relevant content than most (if not all) of the other bridal blogs combined. As the site continues to grow and our visitors keep going up, new opportunities for writers and vendors will make their way into the site over the next year.

My final word in this 300th post goes out to you, the loyal reader. On behalf of the entire team here, we’re honored to have you visit our site on a daily basis. A lot of time and effort goes into the content and we’re so glad that our visitors enjoy reading it. We’re thrilled to be your resource for the latest bridal and wedding trends and promise to you that we’re only getting started here at Bridal Hot List. Stay tuned, as this is only the tip of the iceberg for what we have in store for the future.

Three Ways to Celebrate Your First Anniversary

While there might be millions of great ways to celebrate your honeymoon, many couples are left wondering what to do for their first anniversary. Sure, you and your significant other have gone to a wonderful destination like Hawaii, but after one year, are you really ready to go back? Even though it’s an amazing place, it’s not something to do every single year. Get a little variety in your life and do something crazy and maybe even the complete opposite for your first anniversary. Here are some great ideas to get your mind thinking about something special.

Alaskan Cruise

An amazing adventure awaits on one of the many cruises that go to Alaska. If you have never been, the 49th state is undoubtedly one of the most beautful and makes for a great destination during the summer months when it’s not too cold. Some of the cruises leave from Seattle, which is an amazing city to visit for a few days as well. Cruises to Alaska are filled with fun, food and adventure. Typically the cruise ships will stop every day at a new destination with tons of excursions to enjoy. In fact, I went on one of these cruises and one of the offshore excursions was a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier, where a dog-sled team would be waiting for you to take you back! Amazing! Even if you are just into nature and hiking, Alaska has it all. It’s really an amazing must-see location and the packages with cruises make for a great deal.

New York City

Rarely do you hear about New York City as a destination for a honeymoon. However, for those of you that have never been to perhaps the most amazing city in the entire world, it’s something not to miss. The dining in NYC is outstanding, there’s a million things to do and tons to see. The trip does tend to be expensive as staying even in mid-level hotels in Manhattan can cost upwards of $300 per night. Nevertheless, being able to walk around Central Park, take in a Broadway or off-Broadway show and see all the amazing sights like the Statue of Liberty make for a tremendous first anniversary you will never forget.

Staycation

If you find yourself on a budget, you might want to consider a stay-cation. This is when you take a vacation inside of your own city. Stay at a nice hotel, enjoy one of the nicer restaurants and just make it a very nice, relaxing weekend in your hometown. While it won’t have the adventure of watching Orcas in the open ocean like in Alaska, or watching Broadway’s top talent, it will be a really fun time with your significant other.

Destination Wedding: Southern Orange County

One of the most beautiful destination spots for tourists in the United States is Orange County, California. Thanks to mega resorts anchored by the Disney properties, Orange County sees millions of visitors every single year. Tourists and locals alike know that thanks to the amazing amenities, Southern California is a great destination spot for a vacation or for a destination wedding. In this article, we’ll take a look at some great spots to check out in Orange County.

North Orange County Beach Cities

Specifically the cities of Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, the northern beach cities in Orange County are home to some of the wealthiest people in the country. The beaches are world famous and the various amenities ranging from four-star restaurants to five-star resorts makes this an ideal place to visit. I’ve personally attended some mega-weddings at two different resorts in Huntington Beach that were nothing short of phenomenal. At one wedding, which was held as a traditional Indian ceremony, saw over 500 guests with the groom coming into the ceremony with a parade, riding a gorgeous white stallion! I asked the venue if that was normal and they said it was, with the last Indian ceremony having the groom coming in on an elephant!

There’s so much to do and see in these two cities that you’d be remiss to experience Orange County and miss out on either of these two spots. Newport Beach is a great spot if you like to do any sailing or enjoy a calm and romantic dinner cruise. There are also some excellent restaurants here that are often visited by stars. In fact, Bridal Hot List Chief Editor Niloufar Gibson and I once ate at a popular Italian spot and happened to sit next to Michael Buble! You never know what you might experience or who you might run into, but either way, North Orange County has two terrific beach cities to see.

South Orange County Beach Cities

Equally famous are two amazing spots in southern Orange County, specifically Laguna Beach and San Clemente. Both are world famous and frankly have better beaches than the previous two cities mentioned. If you are looking for a beach spot in a traditional “small beach city” then look no further than either of these two spots. While you won’t find quite the level of the resorts or fine dining experiences than you would up north, both of these cities have extremely charming spots to hang out and eat in. There are some magnificent views that make the whole trip worth it. I’ve attended several wedding here in Southern Orange County, all of which were on the beach right next to the waves and totally unforgettable. If you are looking for an amazing on-the-beach destination wedding experience, look no further than Laguna Beach or San Clemente.

Disneyland

If we didn’t mention “The Happiest Place on Earth” as one of the best destination wedding spots in Orange County we would have failed miserably in mentioning the hottest spots! Disney weddings are more popular now more than ever thanks to the recently remodeled California Adventure and the amazing new hotels on the Disney property. There’s four-star hotels, amazing places to eat and endless staff on hand to make sure your entire family has an amazing experience. Ever dream of being a prince or princess and getting married in a magic castle? This is *literally* where that actually happens! While the bill might also be out-of-this-world, maybe you can save a few extra bucks and have the wedding experience of a lifetime that would make all your friends jealous… forever!

Three Tips to Make Your Wedding Earth Day Friendly

Happy Earth Day, everyone! Today is the day that we reflect on our planet and many of the environmental initiatives that make Earth a better place. While many of us have embraced the concept of “reduce, reuse, recycle” and are doing our part, there’s other events in our lives where we can improve our environmental impact, such as a wedding! Here are three great tips for making your big day a lot more environmentally friendly. Remember, it’s all about making a difference and all the little things definitely add up to big differences in the world.

Local Travel – Cut Down on Drive Times

Instead of forcing your guests to drive all around town, burning up gas and being extremely inefficient with the travel plans, try to have a centrally located place to have your ceremony and reception. If it’s all in the same place, then the travelling people have to do is minimized and there’s less environmental impact. An alternative to this would be to hire environmentally friendly shuttle services – there are many that run off of clean gas or even companies that have fleets of hybrid vehicles. In the city of Denver (it might be the whole state of Colorado), all the cabs are hybrids with the majority being the popular Prius cars that get amazing mileage and do minimal environmental impact for emissions and gas consumption.

Hiring the Right Florist

Just like many of us like to buy at growers direct markets or even at the local Sunday farmers market, there are florists that only buy from local growers or just grow their own flowers. Buying organically grown local flowers is the way to go, although this option might be a little hard for some people if there are no options around where you live. You can also be smart about the candles you buy, with the best being soy-based or beeswax-based ones. Buying locally made products that are organically made means less pesticides and no shipping (giant trucks driving everywhere).

Locally Grown Foods

The next step is to find a caterer that specializes in locally grown, organic ingredients. Many chefs and catering companies will scoff at the idea, but the fact is that many environmentally minded people (and towns) are headed in this direction. The days of over-stuffing your face with greasy foods at weddings is over. People have more sophisticated pallets and hiring a catering company that delivers organic food and maintains a good environmental standing is a big boost to the environmental cause.

Top Five Things To Do On Your Hawaiian Honeymoon

Waimea Canyon in Kauai, Hawaii

Waimea Canyon in Kauai, Hawaii

Every year there are tens of thousands of newlywed couples that travel to the Hawaiian islands on their honeymoon. With some of the most breathtaking views and landscapes a person can find anywhere in the world, the destination remains a favorite with couples. For many visiting the islands, it’ll be their first time there and they’ll need to know some good tips for things to do. Having visiting Hawaii about seven times in my life, I’ve been fortunate to visit all the islands (that you are allowed to visit!) and have this handy list of things you should consider doing … when not busy with other activities!

1. Avoid Maui

I love Maui and this might be a little hard to admit, but it’s not an island to visit if you’re a newlywed. Maui is known as the activity island but it’s also known as the family island. Plenty of moms and dads bring the kids on a trip to Hawaii and end up in Maui. For a newlywed couple this means dealing with screaming kids, children peeing in the pool and worst of all – hearing parents scream at/for their kids. Don’t get me wrong, I love kids and I love families but the prospect of spending a week overhearing moms shouting at their kids and dads shouting at everyone isn’t exactly romantic. Wait for Maui when you have the family!

2. Two Island Experience

If you can, try to split the trip between two islands. If you like isolationism and total romance, definitely include Kauai in that mix. Even if you decide to spend the entire time (a week, for example) in Honolulu, there’s still plenty of opportunity to take a cheap flight over to either the Big Island or Kauai and take a full day tour and take the last flight home. My wife and I did this exact adventure the last time we went to Hawaii. We spent a week in Honolulu but we took a Hawaiian Air flight (costing us about $80 each round trip) first thing in the morning to Kauai. From there we took a full island tour on a luxurious tour bus and it was totally worth it.

3. Waimea Canyon in Kauai

Known as the “Grand Canyon of Hawaii” the exotic and breathtaking view at Waimea Canyon State Park is a must see. It’s one of my favorite spots on Earth and will be a place you will fondly remember for the rest of your life. It makes the entire trek to Kauai worth it. The view is amazing and there’s often some fresh fruit vendors that are a MUST try – especially the pineapple and mangos. Missing out on Waimea Canyon will make your soul cry – so don’t miss it!

4. Hanauma Bay in Oahu

While many are put off by the hustle and bustle of Honolulu, it doesn’t mean there’s not some great places on the island of Oahu. Checking out the north shore is like being on a different island altogether, in fact! One must-experience location is Hanauma Bay which is known as one of the best snorkeling spots in the world. One reason for that is that it’s perfect for beginners and kids! It’s also isolated off from the ocean thanks to a natural barrier so there’s no risk of dangerous sea life creeping in. The fish (and turtles!) you will see will BLOW YOUR MIND. Be sure to take an underwater camera because these pictures will be the highlight of your trip.

5. Attend a Luau Party

Going to Hawaii for the first time, or while you are on a honeymoon, and not attending a Luau should be a crime. A Luau is a big party with cultural dancing and plenty of food. Every island has various Luaus to attend and the one done by the Hilton resort on Oahu was especially magical. There’ll be fire, there’ll be pretty ladies dancing and there will be warriors, plus the amazing feast for everyone in attendance.