Oct
8
When selecting your location, be sure you shop around for hotels in the area willing to block of rooms for your guests. Some may even negotiate a discounted group rate. You should also investigate and share with your guests what airlines offer the best rate of travel. If you are holding your wedding or rehearsal in a remote area, I would recommend that you arrange for transport to and from your event. That makes it easier for guests trying to navigate in an unfamiliar area. You may also want to coordinate and offer airport shuttles for your guests…remember they are extending themselves to participate and anything you can offer to make them comfortable will be appreciated. When planning your reception dinner I would try to stick with the basics. Plan within your budget, keep decorations to a minimum and offer the best food and drinks available. You are going to be in a dream location so enjoy the local fare and splurge on music or entertainment. Everyone is going to be in "vacation mode" and the reception should be a fun and relaxing event for all. This is the time a wedding planner would be very helpful, and if not...Read More
Oct
6
Destination weddings can pile on the expenses, so be sure you have a realistic budget planned, and in place, so you don’t overextend and find yourself with a negative cash flow…that could lead to a very short or non-existent honeymoon. With that in mind, be sure you a list of everything you want to include such as save the dates, invitations, wedding local (chapel, beach, etc.), reception location and menu, entertainment, flowers, photography, and decorations to name a few. Prioritize the importance of the above and spend your money accordingly. You may need to sacrifice some of your wants to pay for some of the things that fall in to your "must have" category. For example, you may offer appetizers at the reception versus a complete sit down dinner, or you may delete a few decorations and stick with beautiful flowers instead. Chances are you won’t even miss the few items that you nix from the original list! It is really important for a destination wedding that you send out save the date cards to your guest list. There are all kinds of invitation styles to choose from ranging from traditional to photo to magnets! You should plan on sending...Read More
Sep
24
Thousands of years ago, language and writing were a luxury afforded only to the wealthiest. Writing a letter, let alone a book, was an extremely difficult task. The most commonly used surface for documentation was parchment made of animal skin. As Egyptians made advances in society, and pharaohs wanted to document their triumphs, they developed the first paper from a pithy plant called papyrus that grew rampantly in their dry climate. Papyrus quickly became the writing surface of choice. It was made by stripping the stem of the plant to the pith and laying the strips together in a single line. Next another layer was placed on top of this layer, cross wise. The strips were moistened and hammered together to make a solid sheet. Lastly, the papyrus sheets were dried and ready for use. Papyrus was not only more accessible than parchment made from a dead animal, but it lasted much longer. Papyrus was more resistant to mold and rot and could be produced in bulk. It was for these reasons that its use spread. Papyrus was used around Europe until the twelfth century. Egypt’s dry, hot weather allowed the papyrus to hold up much better than in humid...Read More
Sep
22
For a fall party stick with the use of reds, oranges, yellows and browns tied with ribbon or raffia on the ends, for a warm autumn feeling. If you have a child, borrow their radio flyer wagon and fill it with some decorative, multi-sized pumpkins, or have the kids decorate them before filling the wagon! This would make a great area for photos, and could be used inside or out. While you are feeling creative, you can also make your own garland, utilizing either real leaves or store bought. Once completed, this can be placed in doorways or around edges of tables. No party decorating is complete without some sort of table decorations. Follow through with fall colored napkins in orange, red, brown or gold, when you add plates in a similar palette the autumn felling should come alive. Depending on whether your party is inside or out you could consider also adding a coordinating table cover, confetti, or hay bales for seats. Food can also add to your decorating ideas. Some yummy suggestions for your party, that are easy to concoct are toasted pumpkin seeds, include: corn bread, popcorn balls, pumpkin or apple pie, hot dogs and marsh mellows...Read More
Sep
20
Do you love the feel of crisp fall weather after the endless days of summer heat? If so, what a great excuse to plan an outdoor party to share the joy of fall with your family and friends. What could be better than, being outdoors sharing ghost stories, smores, laughing and relaxing around a cozy campfire? Since fall is officially kicked off on September 21, there will be harvest festivals, Oktoberfest and lots of other traditional celebrations right around the corner, so now is your chance to spend some time planning your own unique Fall Harvest Party. The following tips and suggestions, should help you started. You should begin by deciding whether or not to host an indoor or outdoor party. This will be dependent on what kind of atmosphere you are trying to achieve and who will be attending. If you prefer really experiencing the "feel" of fall, hosting the party outside is the best plan. Once you have decided on an outside event you should begin gathering any simple and easy to find decorations, such as leaves, apples and pumpkins. You should plan to fill in with larger decor items that add to the fall harvest theme such...Read More
May
14
New Year’s Resolutions Celebration Wine and Resolutions Night Hosting a New Years Eve bash is a huge undertaking; one that you might not want to take on this year. Instead, invite your friends to a fun, low-key evening of reminiscing and resolution-making a few days before the start of the New Year. Simply stock up on a few bottles of wine and some basic party ware. Then, set out some simple, elegant stationery and pens, which your guests can use to write their resolutions for the coming year. You can keep things quiet and personal by encouraging guests to take their resolutions home, or make things festive by encouraging guests to write funny, lighthearted resolutions to share with the whole group. New Year’s Day Brunch This year, why not skip the late night of champagne and cocktails? Invite your friends to begin the New Year on January 1st with a New Year’s Day Brunch that will really help you begin fresh and anew. With a happy brunch and a goal in mind, it might be fun to see just how much you can accomplish. Encourage your friends to bring their calendars, and together you can share ideas about where, when...Read More
May
12
"It’s a Wrap" Party It is something we all do during the holiday season. It can be tedious; it can be time-consuming. It is gift-wrapping. Why not add an element of fun by hosting a holiday gift-wrapping gala? A few weeks before the holidays, invite your friends to spend a few hours eating, drinking, laughing and wrapping To make the party as dynamic as possible, designate each guest to bring specific gift-wrap items (wrapping paper, ribbons, tape, gift boxes, gift bags, etc.). As host, you can be responsible for supplying personalized gift tags, correspondence cards, or holiday enclosure cards, as party favors for each of your guests. Here is a sample invitation wording which you can handwrite on the selection of plain stationery of your choice: Join us for a Wrap Party! Grab a box! Grab a bow! Come gather with your holiday gifts in tow. We’ll eat and drink and chat and smile And wrap some gifts all the while! And, with our gifts wrapped and the chore all done, We’ll be free to enjoy the season in carefree fun! Read Parts: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
May
10
Giving Thanks and Giving Back When we think of Thanksgiving parties, most of us think of the feasts, the toasts, the family, and football. Everyone is for these lovely traditions, but why not begin some tasteful, unconventional traditions of your own? Here are some “fresh” takes on giving Thanks this Holiday season: Starting a "Thanksgiving Circle" Here is one special tradition that is especially thoughtful during the Thanksgiving Season. Start by thinking of two people you want to thank for being in your life. Write and send a personal letter explaining just what each of those people mean to you, and include a gift of personalized stationery. Encourage them to continue the circle of love by using a piece of the stationery you have given them to send a similar sentiment to two loved ones of their own. In lieu of, or in addition to, a note of your own, you can include a message like this one: I want to say thank you for always being there; I want you to know just how deeply I care. And now that I have given thanks and now that you know, Please help this circle of love continue to grow. Thanksgiving Recipe Party...Read More
May
7
"Sweet" Halloween Gestures Halloween is a fun, lighthearted, and youthful holiday and you will no doubt find plenty of reasons to dress up and indulge during this festive time. But before all the ghosts, goblins, and spooky stories make their appearance, why not get your friends together for a Halloween Get-Together with some serious heart? Think about the many people in your community who will be unable to dress up and trick-or-treat this year (for financial, physical, or other reasons). During this spirited time of year, it can be easy, fun, and rewarding to reach out and make simple, sweet gestures, all while having fun! Here are some suggestions for your very own “Halloween holiday party with heart:” Serve spirited refreshments, play some spooky music, and lay a few tables with goody bags to be stuffed with pre-wrapped candy. You can invite your guests to get into the Halloween spirit while spreading a little love. Invite guests to write encouraging words or happy sentiments on cheerful cards to be included in Halloween goody bags. You can go as a group to deliver the bags to local charities, hospitals or food kitchens. Because this will be both a party and a charitable event,...Read More
May
5
End of Summer Celebrations Summer is coming to a close and the kids are heading back to school. This is the perfect time to celebrate the finish of another fantastic season in the sun! While you are at it, why not spread a little sunshine of your own? One wonderful way to welcome the Fall is to help less fortunate families start the school year with a fresh new beginning. Here are some ways to accomplish that goal while celebrating the beginning of the new season: Back to School Backpack Bash What a great way to teach your kids a great lesson before the school year even starts. Host a backpack-stuffing party for less fortunate members of your community. Purchase a few backpacks (depending on how many guests you are inviting) and ask your guests to donate back-to-school supplies to fill them with. You can offer refreshments and play music and let everyone know where the backpacks will be going (local shelters, churches, and schools for homeless students always appreciate these types of donations). Invite guests to write words of encouragement, personalized notes, or “words to live by” on individual note cards to be included in the backpacks. Here is a...Read More