It's Always Somthin'

Seems like when planning an event , the minute you think all is well, your list is dwindling down to minor details YOU ARE GOLDEN...or not. Lets assume you are the Mother of the Bride.

Things like room set ups, flower selection, seating arrangements are all decided long in advance of any well planned event.

What happens if the day of the event, the venue has, for reasons unknown, changed the room set up and tables are now in a different order. The flowers are dropped off and well over 1/2 of them are DOA-yep wilted as last weeks prom corsage. Cousin Theresa, (who answered 1 guest,  because she was certain at RSVP time that she boyfriend Teddy were "SO over"), walks through the door with a new and unaccounted for man on her arm...?

The bad news here is if you did not anticipate any of these or other things happening, and you don't have someone assigned crises control, YOU are going to be the first one to use the complementary Excedrin you put in the basket of niceties in the ladies room, that is if you can locate the BASKET.

An experienced event planner will figure out the seating, call the florist for more flowers-at no charge to YOU and find a plate and a place for the extra man. He or she will also know where the basket with the Excedrin is, but you are not likely to need it because you called a PRO.

Think you can't afford a planner?

When the topic of contacting an event planner comes up while creating a budget for a wedding, anniversary or other personal event, many people in middle income brackets are sure they can "do it" themselves. The primary motivation is to save money, which is a great reason, sort of...

"I LOVE to plan parties!"
"I don't want someone telling me how MY event should go"
"I am very organized AND I will have plenty of time."

I am certain that most folks have the best intentions, and offer the very best they have when trying to prepare for the comfort and enjoyment of their guests. But do YOU enjoy your event? Do you arrive refreshed, hair and nails done, looking and feeling like -you will excuse the expression- a million bucks?

An intimate house party may not leave you with even a chipped nail, but an emotional life event like a wedding, hosting 200 of your nearest and dearest peeps is a different level of hospitality and STRESS.

The event planning industry offers many levels of service. Call around for pricing, check websites, talk to friends-think about what YOU might need just a bit of help with...
From Complete Event Design where the planner literally plans every detail with/for you-venue, food, invites, entertainment etc. using vendors they have long standing relationships with.
To ala carte services, such as just providing coordination services and set up on the day of your event.
There are even planners who will meet with you to help organize your vision and be available periodically to help you prioritize, be sure you are not missing anything or for you to hand off details that you no longer wish to handle.

So, in the four hours before your child's wedding, do you want to be running around a ballroom placing chair covers and centerpieces or at the salon being pampered, drinking a mimosa and dabbing at happy tears?

Happy planning!
Gg

The LAST MINUTE List

One thing I cannot stress enough is making the last minute list AHEAD of time. Oxymoron? Perhaps, but the week of your wedding you may NOT be firing on all cylinders, and it is not the time to think Oh my Gosh! I don't know if everything is covered!
Items on this list would include but are not limited to;

• Comfort items for the wedding party, such as fruit and cheese and crackers and lots of water available during the dressing, hair and makeup time- you would be surprised the number of weddings  made "interesting" by Brides (and maids) or Grooms (and men) keeling over, not from emotion but from lack of food and hydration during the busy morning of the big day!
• "Self Help" supplies Along the same line, assign someone to be in charge of the bag .  Let the bridal party know who is "holding the bag" travel samples of the following work great for this.
• Personal products for the girls.
• Band aids -think -new shoes rubbing the brides (or maids) heel raw.
• Safety Pins-buttons pop, zippers break
• Tylenol, Tums, breath mints-enough said
• Hair pins, hair spray a comb
• Anti-static spray in a small can of for gowns that cling or pant legs that creep up on static filled socks

You get the drift. Your bag might have more or less but if the need arises, its not only the Boy Scouts who should "BE PREPARED"!

Do me a favor...

We have been reading about wedding favors and wondering if people find them meaningful or simply a cute item they lose in their handbag, find later, dust, move around, then throw out-feeling slightly guilty...

Should the bride and groom skip the favor route all together?  After "giving"  your guests a lovely, romantic event to attend, with fabulous food, drink, entertainment and hopefully fun, do they really get upset when you don't give them a personalized votive candle?

Favors can be a part of the table scape, which makes them practical and dual purpose.  I am very big on edible favors, like personalized cookies or chocolates-a nice touch that guests can enjoy without making a commitment to be the caregiver to an item that in no way matches any decor in their space.

At my wedding, we wrote a note to our guests thanking them for being a part our day-gave our thanks to our parents and bridal party and especially to my mom who spent 4 months, every night after work, sewing my gown, adding crystal beads and pearls by hand (over 800 of them at final count!).

It was a way to give "props" to folks with out making speeches too long and to show everyone how much we appreciated how we got to our special day. This was done on special paper and scrolled with a "wedding  color" coordinating ribbon. We had a small container of candies for each person as well.

I like to think that folks read them and honestly, don't care if they left them on the table at nights end. They had served their purpose, extending gratitude until the more formal notes could be written and mailed. (and Yes, Miss Manners would be proud, thank yous were completed in very short order.)

So what do you think?

DIY with a twist!

Had a great final meeting with a DIY Bride last evening.  She has a lovely, laid back "boho chic" vibe going for her event, garden flowers, succulent blooms, mason jars... and a strict budget.
So wait, if she is a DIY'er, and on a budget, why does she want an Event Planner?

Though the decor has been designed by the bride with her Mom and friends such as homemade custom vases waiting to be filled with casual arrangements by the florist etc...for this event, a "day of/go to person" was in order.

This bride (and her Mom) are smart enough to know that the day of the wedding, they want to be pampered, focused on the friends, family and FUN of the event-NOT on if the place cards are in order, centerpieces are placed just so, or if Aunt Sophie has an issue being seated in the 4th row and so on. ( doesn't every event have that person that, though we love them, can blow the relaxation out of the day upon arrival?)

It's all about allocation of the funds available to create the best plan for you.

Most event planners offer a wide variety or services from complete design of decor/food/fashion -to offering a more modest investment in a person who knows the whole plan and is there the day of to see that it unfolds as  perfectly as the Bride and Groom envision it. Event services can be purchased ala carte, what you need, when you need it.

Looking forward to making this day exactly as the bride has designed it, relaxed, festive and fun! 

Better NOW than Never!

Ok so I have not been here is a while. A LONG while. It's not that I haven't thought about it. I have, but I have allowed LIFE to intrude! For shame. 

Actually, I have no excuse- writing here just did not happen for a while. I know this is breaking a cardinal rule in the blog or social media biz-here today, everyday-or gone tomorrow.

So I am stating a new rule "Better NOW than Never."  I may not have something to say everyday, but I will try to bring something worth reading to the table.

RECENT OPPORTUNITIES...

Recently, I have been given a number of opportunities to create floral arrangements for charitable causes. I have learned that using my skill set to enhance events that raise funds for causes
I believe in is a win/win.


Vases purchased from a church
Rummage Sale

 

Bulk bouquets from Costco,
separated and arranged in various vases.



Mission Logo and story card printed and added to the tables, taking
the look from "odds and ends" to "theme".