Happy New Year

I want to wish all of you a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. May all of your hopes and dreams become a reality.

This year remember the things that once inspired you. The things that inspired your creativity, your writing, your art and let them once again inspire you. I have found that those inspirational moments become your drive to doing things that are purposeful and fulfilling.

Take hold of the environment around you, the friends and family that represent the love in your life, take a look at those around you who could benefit from your gifts and talents and help them. You will inspire them and in turn you will be inspired.

Happy New Year

Holiday Traditions

I want to wish you all a great holiday season. May the true meaning of the season, the gift that was given that very first Christmas be in your hearts and minds throughout the year.



I admire and love to hear about various family traditions. I could not remember any traditions in my own childhood, however I figured that traditions had to start somewhere. So this Christmas I started a tradition with my children, baking cupcakes or cookies on Christmas Eve and drinking hot chocolate. Small, simple but I can count on my kids to remind me of this new tradition every year. I would love to see that when they are adults they too will continue this tradition with their own families.

This Christmas season be inpired by the special moments around you. Be it small or grand start or continue a tradition that will help to enhance these wonderful Christmas moments.

Be inspired!!!!

Kathy

Winter Holiday inspiration

I live in a suburb of New York and this week my husband planned a trip for the family to the city. It was impromptu and wonderful. It has been a long time since I have gone to Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree opting to watch the lighting on TV. However this wonderful trip reminded me that I love Christmas in New York. As we walked from the train station on an unusually warm December night, we passed the various vendors selling Christmas items, roasted chestnuts, and santa hats.
We passed by all of the wonderful decorations on the usually plain office buildings. The Radio City Music Hall display reminded us of our past trip to see the Rockettes. As we turned the corner we saw the the 72' tall Christmas tree with its 5 miles of Christmas lights and it was breathtaking. The were many there taking pictures, skating and just enjoying the NYC Christmas aura. As I watched my kids excitement and looked around at the beautifully decorated trees that surrounded the ice rink, I had an inspiring moment. I rememered another winter scene that I absolutely love, the look of ice covered branches, the Rockefeller Center staff responsible for decorating recreated this look with lights.

Instantly my mind started to envision a winter wonderland wedding. I continued to look around and I grew more and more inspired.

I pictured a wonderful winter wonderland wedding using colors in ice blue, silver and white. I saw the room decorated with white branches with clear white lights. The centerpieces were tall glass vases with feathers in white with silver or ice blue branches and dangling from the branches elongated glass beads.
Learn how to make your own ice covered branches here.





Maybe an Apothecary jar filled with silver and blue Christmas ornaments. These jars come in many shapes and sizes and make wonderful centerpieces.





The guests should feel a part of this wonderful winter wedding leave them with this favor




As I took in the snowflake display on the Saks fifth Avenue building, I saw a beautiful backdrop for the bridal party of sheer shimmery fabric with snowflakes of various sizes hanging in silhouette.






Inspiration


I was truly inspired and happy that I took the time to look around and feed my spirit with the miracle of the season and feed my mind with a wonderful idea for beautiful event.

Happy Holidays!!! I hope that this holiday season you are inspired by your Faith, your traditions, your families and all that is around you.

Be Inspired!!!!!

A Master's Tools

Every Master has their own tools. A chef, has his special set of knives and even a pot that is seasoned just right. An artist has his set of brushes. A carpenter has his special tools that he uses to create wonders from a piece of wood. There is one thing that connects all of the masters, their quest to be the best. Their need to be in a perpetual state of learning.






Wedding and Event planners are no exception. We also have tools, whether it is our handy emergency pack, our blackberry. our preferred vendors lists. When we walk into a restaurant or a department store our eyes go immediately to the decor or the new uses of color. We file a photo image in our brain and hope that we get a chance to use this information at our next event.







I recently discovered a tool in the form of a blog, that I will keep close to my heart. From the time that I started reading The Smart Planner, I was in love. I appreciate that Liene Stevens who edits the blog and is the founder of Blue Orchid Designs, a wedding planning firm with consultants in Arizona, New York, and Washington DC, took the time to create a forum, an information hub and a motivational tool for planners. You hear passion in each post and she strives to promote and uplift planners. So Kudos to Liene Stevens for given encouragement and tools that we need as planners to continue to do what we love, and strive to be Masters.


Be inspired to master what you love.

Kathy

During this tough economic period we are making cutbacks in different areas.... Weddings are no exception. I always believe that something can be done for less. You can search bridal websites and magazines for inspiration and find out how to do it for less. You may not have a platimum wedding, but white gold is just as beautiful.

Looking for a wedding cake, how about cupcakes instead, you can buy a great cupcake stand, decorating supplies are also available on the Wiltons website. You can choose to bake the cupcakes yourself, I would only recommend this for a smaller wedding, or you could use storebought cupcakes. Wholesale warehouses offer beautifully decorated cupcakes in batches of twelve or more. If you were planning for 150 guests you will need a bakers dozen, at an average of $1.00 per cupcake, you will spend $156.00 dollars on your wedding cake. The cost of a wedding cake could range from $2-5 dollars per person depending on where you are getting your cake from, going from potentially $500 dollars to $156.00 is definately budget friendly. Don't worry about this idea looking to informal, the formality will be determined by the way your cupcakes are decorated.





Candles are always a great idea for your centerpieces, you can place several votives on a table a place glass beads around them. You can find votive candles in bulk at craft centers. Fruit makes great centerpieces , they can be displayed in various containers. A cylinder vase filled with or without water with pear or apples inside. A tall bowl of lemons, limes or a combination of the two can be very nice for an outdoor or summer wedding. A combination of candles and fruit can work well also.

Signature Events by Crystan Michelle




Christmas wedding...how about christmas ornaments. They come in various shapes, sizes and colors. Placed in an interesting container they sparkle and make a stunning centerpiece.



Wedding attire does not have to break the bank, you can look for trunk shows to save on designer wedding gowns. Davids Bridal has a large selection of bridal gowns in the latest trends that could meet a small budget. Check the sample sales of wedding gown sites and boutiques, as well as for markdowns and discontinued dresses.

I thought that I would share this great site that I found it offers great tips for a budget wedding. They even have a section on getting money for your wedding.

http://www.cheap-chic-weddings.com/index.html

Don't let a small budget hinder you from having a fabulous wedding. Look for images that inspire you and scale them down for a budget friendly wedding.

Wedding Shoes

marciano "tia" sandal

I love shoes , and weddings are a great time to bring out your style. I see a new trend emerging with brides, wearing shoes with color. I love this style idea, well I love anything that is out of the ordinary. Now if you are a shoe lover you have had that moment when the shoe speaks to you. So, lets listen to what the shoes are saying......

blue shoes


By Butler

Christian Louboutin

by Hetty Rose

by Hetty Rose


by Anne Klein


by Kate Spade

Davids Bridal

by Stuart Weitzman

I hope the shoes have spoken and you are now INSPIRED!!!!

Being Thankful

This Thanksgiving I am so thankful for the life that God has given me. With all its ups and downs my life is good. I am especially thankful for this season of my life that has afforded me the opportunity to do what I love (weddings) and write about it. I am thankful that I have a new found purpose, it is my believe that in everything you do you should find purpose. Purpose brings fulfillment. I hope all had a wonderful thanksgiving.

Let the things that your are thankful for inspire you to greater more purposeful actions. Be inspired.

Kathy
image borrowed from blog.pricegrabber.com/

Bridal Shows can be a great way to find products and services for your wedding. Bridal Shows and Expos are a great way to shop and browse for wedding ideas and wedding professionals in one place. Bridal Shows and Expos are a gathering of local and national wedding professionals showcasing their services and products to you personally. You can find flowers, wedding cakes, gowns, rings, bridal fashions, entertainment, photographers, and so much more.

Bridal Shows can be held in convention centers, hotels, catering halls, and other venues. Small bridal shows might average 70- 80 booths of vendors while larger ones will 150 - 300 booths of vendors. Don’t become frustrated if you don’t find what you need at the first bridal show their will be others to attend. Sometimes you will find free Bridal Shows and sometimes you will find some for a fee.



The experience of a bridal show and expo can be overwhelming, however if you prepare yourself you can get the most out of your bridal show. You should plan to get their early. There are hundreds of vendors and even more couples. This is a great opportunity to talk to your vendors, take time to stop at the booths and avoid just picking up their pamphlets. You will be able to find out if this vendor fits into your budget and best of all can they meet the needs of your event. You might be able to book some of your vendors at that time, since you will have many to compare. Look at this as part of the planning process. Remember, this cannot be an hour stop between appointments you will need to plan to stay for several hours of the event to get the most out of it.



Another benefit of the bridal expo is getting the chance to see the personality of those you will possibly be working with, you will often know up front if this is a vendor that will work well with your style and personality. This is very important in making your selections. However, this event can be overwhelming to you and the vendors who may also be new to bridal shows. They also want a chance to meet with you and make the best impressions so be patient with them. If it is a vendor that you are really interested in and you don’t get their attention make a note to call them when you get home.

Questions to ask
1. Are you available the date of my event.
The answer to this question can determine if you will ask anything more.
2. What kind of packages do you offer?
3. Do you have payment plans?
4. Are you insured?
You will have other questions specific to your event and more specific to the vendor your are talking to at the time.

Bridal shows also offer a lot of free samples and sometimes raffles to fabulous prizes. Make sure to complete any registration material clearly, since raffles prizes are picked from the registered parties. Some bridal expos may also offer you a view of the newest bridal styles during bridal gown shows.

Make the most of your bridal show experience, use it as a stepping stone to planning a great event.

You can find inspiration for your great day at bridal shows so be inspired.

Kathy

Create a canvas

I found a really great and fun site. It allows you to create a collage of your favorite wedding elements. BridalCanvas.com. It will be nice to see all the ideas that are floating around in your head all together before your event. Go ahead and give it a try and be INSPIRED.

This is how my canvas looks

Wedding Invitiations

Your wedding invitation is the first impression guests have of your wedding. As with other aspect of your wedding it should be an extension of the bride and groom’s personality. Your wedding invitation will also express the style of event you are planning.


STYLE
Traditionally, formal wedding invitations were printed on ivory or white paper depending on the color of your dress. They were engraved with black or dark-gray ink. While this is still a popular choice for invitations, wedding invitations now come in a variety of styles, colors, shapes and sizes. You will find one just right for your event and budget.




There are a variety of papers that invitations could be printed on, this includes recycled paper, paper with embedded flowers, paper that is made to look old, colored paper. For a more personal touch you can add a photograph to your invitations. Regardless of the level of formality, style or budget your options are endless.
When choosing an invitation your location becomes a big influence in your the style of invitation you will have.




There are many professional suppliers available to help you make your choice. You can obtain many free brochures from these suppliers. Many suppliers will also allow you to order samples for free or for a nominal fee. You can also decide whether you will do the invitations yourself. You will also need to do your research for this option to find the right paper, invitation software, and other supplies that you will need.

ORDERING
The number of invitations that you order does not directly correlate with the number of guests. If you will have 100 guests at your wedding, you need to consider how many of your guests are couples in the same household, in which case you will only need one invitation. Children under 16 can be included on the invitation with their parents. Anyone over the age of 16 should receive an individual invitation. For 100 guests you will probably only need 60 – 75 invitations. Once determining the exact number of invitations needed add on about ten to fifteen extras to cover any extra people you may have forgotten or mistakes made on the envelopes. You should also keep at least one invitation as a memento. Do not forget to send invitations to your parents and wedding party.

There are a number of enclosures to consider when ordering your invitations.

RESPONSE CARD:

This card allows your guests to inform you if they will be attending your event and how many people they will be bringing with them. Response cards should be sent out accompanied by an addressed, pre-stamped envelope to encourage your guests to send it back. Please do not forget the stamps, during the course of our hectic days we may not have the time to run out and get to the post office. You do not want this to be the reason that a card is not returned or returned late. These cards are also directed by the formality of your invitations, so they can be blank cards with your own handwritten message on them or they can be printed with your wording. R.S.V.P. deadlines, which should be no later than two weeks before the special day, or whenever your caterer needs a final count. Some options allow the guests to select the meal they will be having at your affair. Calls to your invitees who have not responded should be made two weeks prior to your event. This gives you time to figure out exactly how many people will be in attendance. It will also be very helpful for your seating plan.





RECEPTION CARDS:

When the ceremony and the reception will be held at different locations you will need a receptions card. This card has the name of the reception location and address. Driving directions are provided on a separated Map/Direction. If your ceremony and reception will be held at the same location, this information can be provided on the invitation. Your wording can be as such, This is one of the money saving tips you need to avoid unnecessary spending. Wording could be as follows, “Reception immediately following”, or “Dinner and Dancing immediately following” to inform your guests that the reception will be held in the same location as the ceremony. However, when the ceremony and reception are held in different locations are invited to both the ceremony and reception and it is at the same location. Reception cards should be on the same paper and type style as the invitation.


MAP/DIRECTION CARD:

To ensure that no one gets lost or arrives late to your event enclose Map/Direction Cards. Your reception site will usually have these available for you as part of your package with them. You can choose to send the Map/Direction Card provided by the hall to your printer and have the card printed on the same type of paper. Printing maps on the same paper is not necessary, it is only necessary that a map card is provided. If you choose to draw your map by hand, make sure that street names are clearly written and clear map drawings. An alternative to sending the directions cards with the invitations, is to send it upon receiving their response card indicating that they are planning on attending your event.



ACCOMODATION CARDS:

Accommodation cards can be sent to your out of town guests listing hotels or places to rent in the area you are having your wedding. Include phone numbers and any information they will need to know to schedule a place to stay. Let them know if you have blocked out rooms at this locations and what the deadline will be for booking at the reserved rate.


LETTERING
There are a couple of lettering options. For more formal invitations you may want to have the Engraving option. This is the most expensive option, this would be an ideal option for weddings with large budgets. The engraving option produces textured raised letters in black or gray ink. Thermography is a less expensive and a popular alternative to engraving that provides almost the same look. Calligraphy is also and option that can be used for a smaller wedding. Keep in mind that if you will be hiring someone for this service they are charging per invitation. Calligraphy can be computerized or done by hand. If you want to use colored ink and/or highly textured paper then you will need to use offset printing.
Traditionally, wedding etiquette dictates that you must write out the addresses for all your invitations by hand so be sure to order extra envelopes for the inevitable mistakes. If you wish you can hire a calligrapher to do this. I have also seen a less time consuming option done on clear labels, printed with a fancy font.
The professional stationery supplier that you choose should provide you with a wide selection of styles, colors, and lettering options to fit in with your budget.

WORDING

Wording can become complicated; however a good supplier will have advice on wording and offer various wording options on their site to direct you. Personalization continues to be a growing theme in weddings today, brides and grooms can choose more creative and personal wording that the traditional formal wordings.
Most wedding invitations include the names of the hosts, which may be your parents, yourselves or both, your own names, and the date, time and location, and reception. You should also add RSVP cards and details.
Bride's Parents Inviting Verse 1

With joyful hearts
we ask you to be present
at the ceremony uniting
BRIDE
and
GROOM
on DAY
YEAR
at TIME
LOCATION
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE

BRIDE'S PARENTS


THANK YOU CARDS
As soon as you start receiving gifts you need to start writing your thank you notes. You may want to order thank you cards along with your wedding stationery so that they match your wedding invitation. Thank you notes should specifically mention the gift, and how the bride and groom intend to use it. Thank you notes can be brief, but should be very personal. You should try to finish them no later than three weeks after the wedding. Everyone who gives you a gift should receive a thank you note. If you are working with a photographer who will provide your thank you cards, try to arrange receiving the thank you cards before anything else so that you can get them out in the mail.




THE MAILING
Before mailing invitations you must proofread very carefully. Check and double-check the wording of all your wedding stationery. Have a friend check them over for you also. To ensure your guests receive their invitations, take your invitation to the post office to be weighed so that you can ensure you have the proper postage.
Invitations should be mailed four to six weeks before the event. Invitations being mailed overseas should be mailed eight weeks in advance.
Remember your invitations do not have to cost a fortune to look gorgeous and delight your guests.

SAVE THE DATE CARDS
All you need is a professional supplier and printer who has the knowledge and experience to help you choose stationery that fits in with the level of formality, style and theme of the wedding of your dreams. If you are having a destination wedding, have several out of town guests or planning your wedding during a holiday weekend, you should consider a Save the Date card. It will give your guests advance notice of your upcoming nuptials and allow for time to request vacation from their jobs and plan financially to travel. A Save the Date card should not to be confused with the actual wedding invitation, they are not to be sent in lieu of an invitation.

There are a host of different options for you save the dates.



 Save The Date Cards
 Save The Dates at The Invitation Depot
 Wedding-Needs.com
 WeddingInvitationsSite.com

Save the date cards are usually mailed out three to five months before the actual wedding date. But, some couples have been known to send them out as soon as they have confirmed their wedding date.


Wedding save the date cards can be anything from formal to casual and could even be whimsical.



Whatever direction you choose , be inspired.

Kathy
aleximani events