Events Blog

Another ball has dropped and 2012 is upon us; Happy New Year!  However the ball in Times Square wasn't the only bling to be seen this past week.  With the holidays comes a whirlwind of wedding proposals. Research indicates that over 1/3 of all engagements in the U.S. happen between Thanksgiving & New Year's Eve. All of those engagements bring new trends and ideas for 2012 weddings.  This wedding season it's all about natural decor, illusion necklines and having fun.

   Tree bark, natural colors and leaves.  It might seem like we are talking about a nature painting but in fact, wedding centerpieces are the topic here.  Many brides are using potted plants (which can double as take home favors) as centerpiece mainstays.  Greens and leaves are also very popular, especially given their very reasonable price and durability. Finally don't forget to mismatch.  Centerpieces that don't all look the same are hot, hot, hot. So, don't forget to use different flower types, colors or even elevation levels to make your centerpieces stand out.

   It may have started with the royal wedding but the illusion neckline has now made it's way to the trend meter.  2012 wedding dresses are all about personal style and wearing what you, as a bride, look good in and are comfortable with.  The illusion neckline can make what was a strapless dress or open back, a bit easier to wear for the common bride. After all, confidence is the most important accessory for any woman.  When you feel good in what you are wearing, it shines through.

   The proof is on YouTube and it can be seen on invitations and in reception themes;  brides and grooms want to have fun at their wedding!  Forget the stuffy events of the past; brides want to dance down the aisle to R&B favorites, grooms want to dawn sneakers and bust a move into their reception, forget the formal menu and bring in food trucks with burgers and fries.  It's all about being fun, unforgettable and fancy free. After all this is your big day and it should be your style.  Make it fun, make it creative and most important make it your own!

We Can Make Your Wedding A Recession-Fabulous Wedding!

 

Times are tough.  The economy is sagging, jobs are hard to come by and most families are cutting back on costs in ever direction. One thing is for certain though, people are still getting married! This weekend all eyes were on Kim Kardashian and Chris Humphries, as they tied the knot in a lavish, exclusive, celebrity packed ceremony.  Sources say that the guest list was over 400 and that the bride had 3 different dresses to showcase during the event.  This sounds amazing, storybook and even has a fairytale element to it. However, for most brides, especially in today's day and age, a wedding even half this size and scope is way out of the budget.  Currently, the average US couple is spending around $27,800 on their nuptials.  This number varies slightly per state and can adjust slightly in urban areas like South Florida, but is still pretty close to this average anywhere your planning is taking place.  When the cost of most celebrity bridal gowns exceeds your entire event budget, how do you make your wedding celebrity fabulous? By becoming recession fabulous of course! With the right planning and resources, couples can have a celebrity-inspired event, without the celebrity price tag. By following a few simple techniques, we have cut costs for many of our events without cutting the elegant look or feel of the event. Here are my top 3 favorite ways to make your event "Recession-Fabulous"!

 

1. Cut costs from your bar - it's the easiest way to cut out the largest amount of money with the smallest overall effect on your event.  - One of the most commonly used trends these days is the signature drink.  Couples are pairing drinks with their theme, using attractive and exciting colors and infusions or just trying to share a favorite and meaningful recipe with loved ones on their special day.  By using just a few signature drinks and limiting your bar to beer and wine, you cut out a bundle of cash and guests don't really notice anything missing. The most commonly used liquors are vodka and rum, stick with drinks that use only one of these and cut costs even more.

 

2. Sorry flowers... you've been asked to sit this one out! Candles, candles, candles! This is my personal favorite money saving technique.  Face it, everyone and everything looks better by candle light!  You've seen the use of obscene amounts of candles in movies and it looks great, why not steal this look for your event? More and more I am suggesting to brides to limit the number of floral arrangements that they have.  By using floating candles, candles of varying sizes in glass containers or even rows of tea light candles, we have been able to create dramatic, beautiful centerpieces.  These pieces are cost effective and most importantly give your event a warm, rich, chic feel without the chic cost.

 

3. If you must have flowers - go for a solo... Some brides are more traditional and others just love the idea of bunches and bunches of pretty smelling buds at their event, so they don't want to stray from using Flowers.  To those brides who are cutting costs but don't want to cut the petals out completely, I suggest using one type and color of flower on the tables and in bouquets.  Using a solo flower or what I like to call a "spotlight flower" allows us to purchase for you in bulk, giving you a better price.  In addition to the bulk purchase, bunching one type and color of flower together gives people the idea that there are more of them and it also allows flowers that normally would not look so elegant, like a carnation for example, to take on a whole different chic look and feel.  Most celebrity floral arrangements that you have seen in pictures or on-line can be re-created using a less expensive flower, giving couples the celebrity look without the sticker shock.