Friday, 19 February 2016
Thursday, 4 February 2016
10 Most Overlooked Wedding Details
If this if your first time planning a wedding, chances are you’re overwhelmed by all the information out there. In our quest to make wedding planning enjoyable for you, we’ve outlined the 10 things we find most couples overlook so you can be more prepared.
1. How to handle accepting gifts: So often we forget to have a plan for accepting gifts from guests. True that these days most guests mail gifts from your registry directly to you, but for those who bring an envelope of cash, you’ll want to make sure they are safely collected, noted and stored. If you’re at a hotel, be sure they have a gift attendant or work with your planner to have them collect gifts. If neither of these are an option, have a cousin or non immediate family member collect and track gifts at a table then lock them in your car or a safe.
2. Lighting is magic: It can transform a room into whatever you envision whether it’s a night club or warm welcoming space. When planning your wedding budget, we encourage you to include lighting as a line items so you flowers can be highlighted and so much more.

3. Budgeting for the following: a. Alterations b. Postage c. Taxes d. Tips
4. Your transportation: If everything isn't happening in one place, make sure you've made arrangements for your transportation to/from each place. Whether you hire a driver or ask a friend, make sure you have a solid plan.
5. Vendor Meals: When budgeting for your hotel/caterer, make sure to include meals for all your on-site wedding vendors. This is most likely required in their contracts, but we like to remind our couples to account for this when building their budget.

6. Planning to eat: I cannot stress enough how important it is to eat on your wedding day! If you’re at a hotel, pre-order a room service meal and make sure to build in time to eat it. For any other venue, make sure you bring snacks, order a pizza or send someone in your wedding party out to get food. Fainting on your wedding day is not an option!
7. A plan to collect personals after the ceremony/reception: Some of you may have family heirlooms as part of your ceremony or a really special guest book. If this is you, you’ll want to make sure you have a plan in place for who will collect all these items right away so nothing is lost. If you have a wedding planner, they will most likely take care of this, but if not, it’s a great Maid of Honor or Best Man task.
8. An extra dress shirt: This one is for the men out there! There are a couple different reasons for you to have an extra dress shirt or two. The first is in case someone gets makeup on your white shirt or you have a spill. The second reason is for all your dancing men out there. If you like to boogie, it’s basically a given that you’ll work up a sweat. As your shirt gets wetter throughout the night, you’ll be thankful for a dry shirt to change into before cake cutting.

9. Accounting for vendor tips: It’s not mandatory to give a gratuity to your vendors, but if you've enjoyed working with them or they’re gone above and beyond, it’s a gracious way to thank you. We suggest that all couples set aside some money in their budget for gratuities/thank you.
10. Marriage License: This may seem like a ‘no brainer’, but it can be easily overlooked or forgotten in the hustle bustle of wedding planning. Remember each state has their own rules and deadlines for obtaining your marriage license, so be sure to do your research ahead of time and give yourself plenty of time to secure it.

If this if your first time planning a wedding, chances are you’re overwhelmed by all the information out there. In our quest to make wedding planning enjoyable for you, we’ve outlined the 10 things we find most couples overlook so you can be more prepared.
1. How to handle accepting gifts: So often we forget to have a plan for accepting gifts from guests. True that these days most guests mail gifts from your registry directly to you, but for those who bring an envelope of cash, you’ll want to make sure they are safely collected, noted and stored. If you’re at a hotel, be sure they have a gift attendant or work with your planner to have them collect gifts. If neither of these are an option, have a cousin or non immediate family member collect and track gifts at a table then lock them in your car or a safe.
2. Lighting is magic: It can transform a room into whatever you envision whether it’s a night club or warm welcoming space. When planning your wedding budget, we encourage you to include lighting as a line items so you flowers can be highlighted and so much more.

3. Budgeting for the following: a. Alterations b. Postage c. Taxes d. Tips
4. Your transportation: If everything isn't happening in one place, make sure you've made arrangements for your transportation to/from each place. Whether you hire a driver or ask a friend, make sure you have a solid plan.
5. Vendor Meals: When budgeting for your hotel/caterer, make sure to include meals for all your on-site wedding vendors. This is most likely required in their contracts, but we like to remind our couples to account for this when building their budget.

6. Planning to eat: I cannot stress enough how important it is to eat on your wedding day! If you’re at a hotel, pre-order a room service meal and make sure to build in time to eat it. For any other venue, make sure you bring snacks, order a pizza or send someone in your wedding party out to get food. Fainting on your wedding day is not an option!
7. A plan to collect personals after the ceremony/reception: Some of you may have family heirlooms as part of your ceremony or a really special guest book. If this is you, you’ll want to make sure you have a plan in place for who will collect all these items right away so nothing is lost. If you have a wedding planner, they will most likely take care of this, but if not, it’s a great Maid of Honor or Best Man task.
8. An extra dress shirt: This one is for the men out there! There are a couple different reasons for you to have an extra dress shirt or two. The first is in case someone gets makeup on your white shirt or you have a spill. The second reason is for all your dancing men out there. If you like to boogie, it’s basically a given that you’ll work up a sweat. As your shirt gets wetter throughout the night, you’ll be thankful for a dry shirt to change into before cake cutting.

9. Accounting for vendor tips: It’s not mandatory to give a gratuity to your vendors, but if you've enjoyed working with them or they’re gone above and beyond, it’s a gracious way to thank you. We suggest that all couples set aside some money in their budget for gratuities/thank you.
10. Marriage License: This may seem like a ‘no brainer’, but it can be easily overlooked or forgotten in the hustle bustle of wedding planning. Remember each state has their own rules and deadlines for obtaining your marriage license, so be sure to do your research ahead of time and give yourself plenty of time to secure it.

Tuesday, 2 February 2016
8 Savvy Ways to Promote Your Event Business

As you develop your event planning business, it's important to market in order to grow your client base. Following are eight ideas for advertising and promoting your event planning business:
1. Networking
For most planners, networking is at the top of the list in terms of developing a strong client base. Networking can help your business in two ways. If people have met you and know what services you offer, they may refer business to you or use your service themselves. Furthermore, networking with hotels, caterers and so on will give you a chance to meet some of the people whose services you may need as you plan events.
For most planners, networking is at the top of the list in terms of developing a strong client base. Networking can help your business in two ways. If people have met you and know what services you offer, they may refer business to you or use your service themselves. Furthermore, networking with hotels, caterers and so on will give you a chance to meet some of the people whose services you may need as you plan events.
2. Advertising
Print advertising covers a broad range, from a free--or inexpensive--Yellow Pages advertisement to an ad in a glossy national publication costing tens of thousands of dollars. Most planners agree that an ad in the Yellow Pages makes good business sense. A line advertisement, simply listing your business name, is often provided free of charge when you connect your phone. You can also opt for a display advertisement -- the bigger, bordered ads in the Yellow Pages -- but there's a charge for these.
Print advertising covers a broad range, from a free--or inexpensive--Yellow Pages advertisement to an ad in a glossy national publication costing tens of thousands of dollars. Most planners agree that an ad in the Yellow Pages makes good business sense. A line advertisement, simply listing your business name, is often provided free of charge when you connect your phone. You can also opt for a display advertisement -- the bigger, bordered ads in the Yellow Pages -- but there's a charge for these.
You may also want to consider advertising in your local newspaper or in a regional magazines, if you plan both corporate and social occasions. Because the market area for this kind of event planner can extend throughout a given county, a magazine focusing on that county can be an excellent one in which to advertise. These magazines can be geared to topics related to your service (e.g., gourmet food, floral design) or aimed at readers in a certain region. An ad in a regional magazine might be a good tool for reaching upscale consumers. A regional business magazine ad would reach prospective corporate clients.
3. Business card
Don’t underestimate the power of this small but mighty marketing tool. Even in the computer age, a succinct, professional printed business card is still critical. Consider it a diminutive brochure, especially if you opt for a tri-fold business card. Many planners opt for this business-card format because more information can be included than on a traditional business card, while the card remains small enough to be tucked inside a wallet or purse.
Don’t underestimate the power of this small but mighty marketing tool. Even in the computer age, a succinct, professional printed business card is still critical. Consider it a diminutive brochure, especially if you opt for a tri-fold business card. Many planners opt for this business-card format because more information can be included than on a traditional business card, while the card remains small enough to be tucked inside a wallet or purse.
Include the name of your business, contact information (e-mail, phone and website address, for instance), your name, specialization, your logo, and some testimonials from past clients. Always carry business cards. You never know when you'll run into a potential client. Ask vendors with whom you work (florists, caterers and photographers, for instance) if you can leave a stack of business cards in their places of business.
4. Informative brochures
Like your business card, a well-designed, professional brochure can help cement your image as a professional planner. Prospective clients will make judgments about your company based on your brochure, so make sure it's conceived and produced at the highest level possible.
Like your business card, a well-designed, professional brochure can help cement your image as a professional planner. Prospective clients will make judgments about your company based on your brochure, so make sure it's conceived and produced at the highest level possible.
The brochure should include all the information listed on your tri-fold business card and allow you to expand upon this information, in particular, by adding photographs. The photos should be of successful events you've designed. You may also want to include a photo of yourself.
Maximize your chances of success by making sure your company brochure matches the type of business you have. All materials should look professional, but if you are marketing to a budget-conscious group, a too-glamorous brochure can send the wrong message--and send potential budget-conscious clients running in the opposite direction.
As with your business cards, leave your brochure with caterers, florists, photographers, and other vendors with whom you've worked.
5. Direct mail
You may choose to distribute your brochure via direct mail. If you do, make sure your mailing list is well chosen. Event planner David Granger says that while word of mouth is his most effective advertising, he uses mailing lists of the organizations his company belongs to (International Special Events Society, Meeting Professionals International, National Association for Catering and Events, and the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau).
You may choose to distribute your brochure via direct mail. If you do, make sure your mailing list is well chosen. Event planner David Granger says that while word of mouth is his most effective advertising, he uses mailing lists of the organizations his company belongs to (International Special Events Society, Meeting Professionals International, National Association for Catering and Events, and the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau).
6. Customer service
One of the best ways to keep customers satisfied and coming back is to be constantly on the lookout for new ideas and ways to improve the service you provide. Consider the following:
One of the best ways to keep customers satisfied and coming back is to be constantly on the lookout for new ideas and ways to improve the service you provide. Consider the following:
Take a course or a series of courses in event management.
Invest in an hour or more with an industry consultant.
Attend other events to study how they're produced.
Attend as many arts-related functions as possible (e.g., arts exhibits, theatrical performances) to gather ideas.
Join trade organizations.
Subscribe to at least one professional newsletter or journal.
Invest in an hour or more with an industry consultant.
Attend other events to study how they're produced.
Attend as many arts-related functions as possible (e.g., arts exhibits, theatrical performances) to gather ideas.
Join trade organizations.
Subscribe to at least one professional newsletter or journal.
7. Facebook
Facebook is geared toward communicating with your network of friends. However, friends “like” websites they want to support or really like. So create a Facebook page for your event planning business, but use it sparingly for promoting your business. Postings to your Facebook wall might include some fun tidbits you learned about a new wedding venue in the region or some behind-the-scenes anecdotes from that Rolling Stones concert you're coordinating. Check out the Facebook pages of other event planners and other service businesses you use and admire to see how they're using Facebook to their advantage.
Facebook is geared toward communicating with your network of friends. However, friends “like” websites they want to support or really like. So create a Facebook page for your event planning business, but use it sparingly for promoting your business. Postings to your Facebook wall might include some fun tidbits you learned about a new wedding venue in the region or some behind-the-scenes anecdotes from that Rolling Stones concert you're coordinating. Check out the Facebook pages of other event planners and other service businesses you use and admire to see how they're using Facebook to their advantage.
8. Twitter
With Twitter, you can tweet quick messages to your subscribers to remind them about your business. “Paul McCartney just said ‘yes’ to special appearance at Stones concert! Better get your ticket now!” or “Just found out about a great new event venue with full-service spa--does your corporate event need planning?” might be messages that promote your service while also offering benefit to the reader.
With Twitter, you can tweet quick messages to your subscribers to remind them about your business. “Paul McCartney just said ‘yes’ to special appearance at Stones concert! Better get your ticket now!” or “Just found out about a great new event venue with full-service spa--does your corporate event need planning?” might be messages that promote your service while also offering benefit to the reader.
As your Facebook and Twitter audiences grow, stay creative. Invent new ways to engage your audience and encourage them to invite their friends. Continue to avoid hard sales pitches. People don't forward commercials to their friends -- they forward value.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR WEDDING COLORS
How to Choose Your Wedding Colors
Your color scheme for the wedding has the power to set the vibe – so choose wisely. Focusing on the color theme early on is important to ensure that everything else obtained for the wedding is well coordinated and suited to the wedding as a whole. The colors are completely up to you but you will need to take into account where you're getting married, and the formality or informality of your ceremony and reception.
The complexity or simplicity of color schemes are another part of your decision and these will depend on your personal preferences, budget, and patience! Here are the top determining factors to selecting your hues.
Steps
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1Use your favorite shade. You've been in love with pale lavender since the first grade, so this is a good place to begin – with what you love. You can tastefully incorporate any color into your wedding decorations by selecting the right hue, and combining it with the right accents.
- Which colors are you drawn to most? Is there one particular color or several? If there are several colors, are they compatible?
- Check your wardrobe. Leaving aside the standard office black, what are the other colors that emerge the most? These colors are a good indicator of your general color preferences.
- Make a color inspiration or mood board. Get a piece of thick card and place images you like from magazines on the board, images that highlight the colors you're keen on. You can also use color paint charts to help you match the hues and to get subtle shade variations.
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2Consider the setting. Look at the colors used in your venue’s carpeting, drapery and decorations. If the site has strong colors, you’ll need to select a color scheme that complements. If you already have your heart set on a certain color, you may need to select a more neutrally decorated site but this needs to be sorted out very early on or you may miss out on a good location! However, keep an open mind about colors until you've chosen the venue, because the setting may well suggest the color scheme for you.
- Older buildings can have very rich, over-patterned curtains and carpets. Check these with care because they can clash badly with your color scheme.
- If the colors of the venue are very strong and you have your heart set on that venue, consider predominantly white and/or cream for the color scheme as this will be both effective and matching. This will allow you to add a touch here and there of a favorite color without overdoing it, but these splashes of color will tone down any spartan feel of the white theme.
- For outdoor weddings, look for fresh and light colors that suggest the brilliance of outdoors.
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3Be prepared to have two different/distinct color themes if your church or wedding building and reception venue are very different in tone. In general, it is probable that you will have more leeway to use colors with the reception than where thewedding ceremony itself is held. However, you can still carry the color theme in clothing and flowers from the place of marriage to the reception, even if you can't decorate the church, town hall, or register office as much as you'd like.
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4Enlist your favorite bloom. If sunflowers are your thing, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t make it into your décor scheme. Incorporate your predominant flower color – either making it the dominant shade or using it as an accent – and it will all come together.
- See How to choose wedding flowers for more details on the floral side of your wedding.
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5Consult the season. Decorating is simple when Mother Nature is your guide, so let the natural colors of the season be your inspiration. That doesn’t mean that you’re stuck with prissy pastel decorations during spring or brown and orange during fall/autumn. Just make sure that the wedding colors you choose complement the blooms and foliage that are naturally available during that time of year.
- Be wary of combinations that usually go with other celebrations, unless it's the right time of year. For example, red and green is associated with the holiday season. While that would be fine for a winter or holiday season wedding, it would be less suitable for a spring or summer wedding.
- Pastels are best for warmer weather; otherwise they can appear too cold.
- When thinking about seasonal colors, think of variations of shades and not just the commonly recognizable colors. For example, for fall/autumn, consider maroon, russet, gold, amber, and ochre as well as the usual brown, orange, and red colors.
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6Remember the bridesmaids' dresses. If you want your bridesmaids decked "head to toe" in your color, you’ll need to make sure it’s an appealing and flattering shade to wear. You may need to accept variations in the shades to keep each bridesmaid happy, especially if it's a color that one or more of them are not happy to wear.
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7Get the groom and best man involved. The cummerbund, waistcoat, and tie can all be in the color theme of the wedding. And don't forget the buttonhole.
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8Incorporate color with care. It is common to have a color palette with up to five main colors for many weddings now but you do need to be careful that the colors don't overwhelm the wedding or create a sense of disjointed themes. Also, exact color matches on everything is overwhelming; instead, go for shade variations on the original colors. Rely on small touches here and there for getting across the wedding color scheme rather than huge bold displays of it, such as the font color on invitations, and little ribbon touches here and there.
- Use the color theme on the invitations, the place cards, the ribbons around flower arrangements, the flowers, in the flower girl's hair or waist sash, and on the wedding cake.
- If the color of flowers you really wanted are not in season, rely on white flowers and use the ribbons and other decorative elements in the color of choice instead. This will still indicate the color theme without losing the beauty of the floral arrangements.
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