ESTOccasions

20%

2012-02-11T09:26:00.000-08:00

When was the last time you looked at your contracts with your venue or your caterer carefully? Did you ask about every single charge on the bill? Did you read the fine print? I of course read the fine print over and over again. Even if I have used the location or the caterer before, I make sure to reread just in case.

What I've been noticing is an additional 20% fee added to a few venues or caterer's final bill. Now there are times I totally understand this charge, if the caterer is has to remove all of garbage from the location. No matter how you attempt to cut waste, there is waste at any event, and this has to be removed. If you attempted to clear all of this yourself, it could take many trips to the dump and it is worth it to have them remove it for you. Trust me, you don't want to be in charge of this. If they say the charge is a linen cleaning charge but you are given a choice of linens for free, double check and clarify for yourself what is part of your original fee covers what.

The point here is to ask what the 20% covers and if the venue or the caterer can't tell you what it covers then you have an issue. They should be able to describe it to you and not just say it covers miscellaneous, isn't a good enough answer. This is a part of the bill that you can attempt to negotiate. It is worth asking and seeing what they tell you. It is simple, you should be aware of how your money is being spent and what is covered and what isn't. It is your money and you should be okay with how it is being spent.

Expressing Tradition!

2012-02-10T12:10:00.000-08:00

Giving your wedding a personal touch is a wonderful thing & bringing in a bit of family tradition can be a sweet touch. It doesn't have to be wedding traditions though, like getting married in the same church as your parents or the same wedding date or reception location.

I had one sweet bride (I'm using the word sweet since I know she still reads these) decide to share her Nana's cookies with everyone and even the recipe. It was a nice personal touch of family tradition that will be remembered for years to come.

Another couple who decided that their candy bar was filled with candies from all their own childhood. Many people tend to stick to the wedding theme or the colors which is amazing but this couple wanted to filled the jars with their childhood. Plus they even went as far as to add in their parents favorites.

One couple used the wedding bands from the family, one from the bride's father who had passed away many years earlier is now being worn by the groom. It was a sweet gesture, and something that will be forever special to the couple.

When you decide to do something like this, then take the time to share it with your guest. Add a cute little sign that explains your choices, or add some information into your programs. You guests want to know and you should share.

Valentine Romance

2012-02-09T05:27:00.000-08:00

Organic Photography

With Valentine’s day just around the corner, the big push for what you should be doing for that day has of course already started. I think the push actually started months ago when Valentine candy was even out before Christmas was over, but anyways next Tuesday is the day. Do you plan to go out that night, or maybe go out this weekend or the weekend after? Will you create a romantic dinner at home? Just buy each other gifts? Plan a getaway? The questions are kinda endless. The biggest question I always have, are you being romantic cause you want to be or cause of the date?

No matter what day you decide to celebrate, let us make a few suggestions. For the next week, why not use your good plates, the good wine glasses, and real napkins. Why not light candles throughout your dinning room, or your kitchen table. Why not add candles throughout the room? Pick a night to cook together, start with a bottle of wine, and cook together! One of you can pick up the needed items from the store, and the other one can put the dishes away but take the time to create a meal together. This works best if you put your phone in another room, don’t turn on the tv, though music is okay. Why not buy a box of chocolates and enjoy biting into each one and figuring out if it is one you like or you don’t. Or even better feed them to each other and see if you can guess what they are. Take one night to enjoy your partner’s choice in a movie and then the next night switch. I also recommend that you both plan a night out and make the reservations and surprise each other. You don’t have to go out for a huge pricey meal, but instead go out for drinks before or maybe just dessert. Plus there are plenty of great restaurants that offering amazing deals this month, so do a little research and find the best deals.Have a little fun seeing who can find the best deal in town. If you don’t have a babysitter, then why not pick up a take out order from that place you both have been wanting to go too. Maybe just turn on your favorite song and dance around the house together, it doesn't cost you anything.

My hope here is that I’ve given you a little food for thought on how to be romantic for more than just one day or at least how to make the one day really count. I personally am not a huge fan of Valentine’s day, believe or not. I don’t even own anything red, (someday I will share a photo of my cool walk in closet and you won’t see red. I do own a few pink items but I’m sure my mother bought them for me). I am a huge fan of romance though, maybe that is why I love weddings. While there are so many wonderful details to a wedding, my favorites are always the simple acts of love the couples share. That first moment they see each other, be it during a first look or when one is about to walk down the aisle. I love the moment when a couple is first married, and have a few seconds after the ceremony before anyone else hugs them or congratulates them. My favorite of all time, is when I see a couple both talking to other people look across the room, filled with friends and family and mom’s co-workers and they share an entire conversation with just a smile. Those are the things I wish most for my couples, that they don’t lose that special connection, that they take time to still enjoy each other and love all moments, good and bad with each other. So if you find yourself thinking of what to do this holiday, then make an effort to honestly take time to spend with each other and be a tiny bit more romantic.

Also do your best to shop local, (buy flowers from a local place) & eat at locations that aren’t chains, and support the places around you if you can. That has nothing to do with romance but just a nice reminder for you.

Things to consider for an outside ceremony

2012-02-08T08:21:00.000-08:00

Last wedding season I was lucky to have a range of different ceremony locations. I had a good chunk of them be outdoors, I think it is something many of us enjoy but there are always a few things to take into consideration when deciding on an outdoor ceremony location.

Set the ceremony away from the sunshine.

Lots of sunshine!

SUNSHINE: Make sure you figure out where the sun will be during your ceremony. Try to ensure that your guests and your wedding party isn't squinting throughout the service. You want people to focus on the ceremony not on the fact that they can't see you. Try to pick a time for your ceremony that works with the level of sunshine if you can.

Two Roads Photography

SOUND: Since you are outside, it is important to figure out how to make sure you are heard. There are ways to hook up a sound system, this is a great thing to discuss with your DJ or musicians for your ceremony. Your planner of course knows ways to help too. If you decide not to use a sound system, make sure everyone speaks clearly, a bit louder than normal and have your guests sit closer together. As the wedding couple, make sure you are looking at each when you exchange your vows instead of having your back to your guests. Don't have your wedding party block you either.

BUGS: It is a great idea to have bug spray available around the ceremony site. Stick them in a basket, with packages of tissues and you are good to go. Another product beside spray are bug spray wipes, they are easy to use but remember to have a trash can close by for people drop the wipes into after use. You can fog the area a few hours before the ceremony, set up bug traps, or have a professional bug spraying company come out usually the week of the wedding.

SEATING: What will work best for your style of wedding, budget and number of guests. You don't have to have everyone sit if you plan on a short and sweet ceremony. Though it is important to have some form of seating for certain guests, you don't want your grandmother standing for the whole ceremony. Rented chairs, benches, blankets, hay and there are always clever choices to be made in seating. Just remember, not everyone is going to want to sit on the ground and find the best solution that works for the space and your style.

Always be willing to work with the space you are in, remember to have a back up plan or even two or three of them! Outdoor ceremonies can be amazing and taking the time to work out the details is important.

Meeting both needs, chairs and blankets for a freestyle wedding.

I admit it...

2012-02-07T06:07:00.000-08:00

Okay, I admit it, I've been lacking on the blog posts. It is very easy to spend my late night hours checking out Pintrest, or creating a one of a kind cake stand for one of my couples. I look at the blog, I even start them but then I have about 3 different topics to cover and well you get the picture. I'm going to spend one whole week posting in my blog. (Don't mind the fact that I'm starting this on Tuesday. :) I have a few topics to cover and I may cover one or more a day but until next Tuesday there will be a new post every day.

We will be covering Valentine's Day, our upcoming bridal show at the Mark Twain House & Museum. Feature a few of our favorite wedding vendors, cover a few pressing issues like Facebook Eventing your wedding, creative tips and more.

2012 upcoming events

2011-12-23T11:18:00.000-08:00

and many more to come, like a wedding show at the Mark Twain House & More. Stay tuned!

Holiday Cheer

2011-12-22T15:23:00.000-08:00

We here at ESTOccasions would like to wish you some holiday cheer. Our offices will be closed from the 23rd until the 26th. Feel free to send us an email during this time. May your holiday season be filled with joy, happiness, good friends and family. May all of your traditions continue, and with any luck we won't all gain an additional 10 lbs. :)
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Holiday Wedding Maddness

2011-12-17T06:04:00.000-08:00

The holiday time is really upon us. No matter what you believe in, how you celebrate or what you do during this holiday time, there is bond to be parties, gatherings and people who are going to ask over and over again how wedding planning is going. Not only will they ask but they may even give unsolicited advice, or opinions about your planning.

At the office party, you will hear about your coworkers daughter's college best friend's wedding and how they just LOVED that wedding. Or how their cousins son DJ's on the weekend, and they don't mind passing along your name. My favorite is when brides tell me after the holidays how great aunt suzy wanted to know how long after the wedding will they wait to have kids. The other wedding conversation that comes up is how much you are spending. The simple thing is that you don't need to share this information and do your best to politely just exit the conversation. Or tell people your planning is moving along well and that you are really just enjoying being engaged. Don't feel as though you need to explain yourself and honestly most people ask only cause they are interested.

As a planner, I do tend to pick the brains of people who I meet who are engaged or just got married. I warn them first and ask them if they don't mind if I ask them a few questions. I also state it is for research because I can learn a lot from people who just went through it or are in the middle of it. Everyone is different, and what they end up loving and hating, I find interesting.

So good luck as your work your way through this holiday time, only a few more weeks to go. Soon it will be 2012, a whole new year of people asking you how it is going. :) Happy Holidays!

Taking My Own Advice

2011-12-01T06:39:00.001-08:00

Most couples who have been planning (even if they have a planner) find one or two tasks that just seem impossible or as far away from being enjoyable as they can be. It is bound to happen, it can't all be fun all the time. If it was, do you think you would enjoy the good times as much? (Not sure why I had a sort of zen moment) Anyways I can almost always pick the two things each couple won't want to do after they start, of course each couple is different.

I find myself saying often "it is okay", " this is just a bump in the road", "think about the big picture" , "take a deep breath" and then walking them through the issue until we find a solution that works out best for them. I have to do the pep talk first though, I have to bring my couple back to a point where they are listening, calm and ready to honestly tackle the task at hand. The last few weeks have been interesting here at ESTOccasions and even I, have moments of "what the hell" though depending on the issue, there may be other words in that phrase. Most of us wedding professionals work for ourselves. It is a balancing act (which for the most part I love and makes me good at what I do. Example: Delaying the bride by 10 minutes to ensure the rental company truck won't be in any photos as they deliver a working oven this time to the catering company, all while smiling and letting her know that we are just waiting for a few guests to sit down. Which was true and thank goodness for last minute folks.) I have to balance between running two businesses, a household, a family and time to just breath. It is what I love but I found myself this morning in a bit of stress. The boys needing one thing, only have instant coffee in the house (bad choice but better than none), a full email box, appointments later today, deadlines and thinking how in the world was this going to work today. So I took a deep breath, reminded myself that everything really is OKAY and I need to look at the big picture. Slowly just went back to checking one thing off at a time and being thankful that I get to do something I LOVE every single day. Now I remember why I say these things to my clients. :)

So if you find yourself this weekend, stressing while trying to figure out your long list of wedding tasks, remember to take a deep breath. Tackle one thing at a time. Know you can't make everyone happy and always, ALWAYS look at the big picture. Your friends and family are coming because they LOVE you, they want to share in this moment with you, and maybe remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing. This zennish moment has been brought to you by instant coffee, 5 hours of sleep and a happy wedding planner. :)

5 years

2011-11-09T11:17:00.000-08:00

The big 5...for me this was a huge deal. 5 years ago I found myself thinking why not plan my own bridal show. I had plenty of reasons why not to plan one but none of them seemed like a good enough reason. I reached out to a few great local wedding professionals who had become friends with and pitched the idea. No one laughed, (well except my mother but she said it was a supportive laugh:) the idea was born and forward I went.

From the tented affair of about 65 or so to hosting over 200 guests this weekend, I really can't complain. It seemed a bit unreal to be honest. I love this different part of my business, and I love the vendors I get to meet. We always have a mix of vendors who have been with us before and others who are trying us out for the first.

The point is never to be the huge expo style event, since I've taken many of clients to these style events and really did my best to listen to what they liked and hated. From there I took these ideas and created them into my show. It doesn't work for everyone of course, but for the ones it does, it works well.

There were a few delivery issues and a few missing vendors due to lack of power and damaged trucks but overall an outstanding turnout. I thank everyone for their support, for coming out and the amazing vendors I get to call friends.

From a simple idea, this part of the company has really grown. We have wedworks, which are just networking nights for the vendors, a spring show, and now working on a Winter show at the Mark Twain House for 2012. I hope to continue.

No power, no problem.

2011-11-09T11:05:00.000-08:00

It will be awhile before anyone in Connecticut forgets the snow storm we had the last weekend of October. While I'm a snow lover, just love it, I have to admit it was unexpected how much damage this storm caused. I think most of the state now has power 10 or so days later but not everyone.

I spent the storm snuggled in by the fire, thinking whew no wedding. I didn't think it would cause an issue for my couple the next weekend. I was WRONG. The venue was without power, then again most of the town was without power. While this was greatly upsetting on Monday, and even Tuesday, we thought there was no way it would continue to be an issue. Of course it was, CL &P was expecting to have power to the town of Glastonbury until the Monday after the wedding. The hotel didn't even have power but thankfully by Wednesday they did.

We spent a few hours looking for different locations, seeing what we could do. Could we move it, could a place be found that could handle the food requests and could it be done. Now I'll admit my bride might have been a TINY bit upset but she handle herself like pro. Upset yes, but she kept moving forward. She kept looking while we were looking and never giving up. Okay so her hair trial couldn't be held the day she wanted due to lack of power, she still found a way to make it happen. It really was one thing after another but at the end the hotel were the guests were staying, did their best to help us out. They gave us a ballroom, we informed all the guests and well they got married of course. Thankfully their church was PERFECT, and had no issues. While it might not have been the wedding Maryann & Keith had been planning with us for so long, it was a wedding to remember. They were surrounded by friends, family and so much love. We wish Maryann & Keith only happiness and joy for the rest of their lives together.

Been awhile

2011-11-09T06:23:00.000-08:00

I often find myself thinking, I should blog about this. Or I should really catch up, or blog or sleep, so sleep had been winning the battle. We have been in FULL on wedding season rush. Every time I thought to blog about a wedding, I started to thinking this was one we were submitting to a magazine or a website. Or this is great but I'll wait for the photos.

Now I start to sort through all the topics we wanted to discuss, all the weddings and I'm looking at what I can start to share with you all. So many things, and I have to say I'm excited to start doing this part again. The next blog will be a wedding that will never be forgotten

A loving Vote

2011-08-05T06:28:00.000-07:00

My Sundays are usually spent recovering from an event or off to another event, not for wandering through the Coventry Farmer's Market, as much as I would like too. Last Sunday was one of those rare open days for me (been on a quest to balance between work & family) and of course I packed up the family and went to the Flea Market in Mansfield, followed by the Coventry Farmer's Market and finished off our adventure by meeting friends for lunch at Fay's Place.

The market was PACKED!! We gathered up the fruits and veggies we needed for our new juicer, said hello to a few llamas and onto lunch we went. What I loved about our visit, was how almost every vendor had the Great Barn Giveaway on their tents, friends of the market were sharing high tech Q code cards for voting and it was a great sense of community. This barn will benefit the farmer's market of course but also the Nathan Hale Homestead. As a business sponsor (my second year, granted last year I was only a friend of the market. I missed the deadline, yes it even happens to us planners at times.) I want to see them succeed. So many really go beyond what you would expect to make sure this market runs as smoothly as it does.

Please take a few seconds, vote, pass along the information to your coworkers, your wedding professional friends, your mommy and me groups, and anyone else you can think of. Let's show everyone how Connecticut wins! http://www.greatbarngiveaway.com/
Vote today!!!!

Before you say YES

2011-07-30T19:51:00.000-07:00

You know it is coming, your good friend gets engaged and shortly there after you are asked to be part of the bridal party. Before you say "YES", take a few things into consideration.

You will have to spend money!! Maybe on something you don't love, and can NEVER wear again. If you are lucky, you may love it and be able to wear it again but don't count on it.
Odds are you will have to work with others. A bridal party can be a mix of siblings, cousins, childhood friends, roommates & you may not all get along. Don't allow this to EVER be an issue for the couple getting married.
Remember your role in the wedding. If you are the Maid of Honor or Best Man, you have responsibilities. If you aren't sure what they are, then ASK. You will be helping put together a shower, or a jack n' jill and bachelor and bachelorette parties. Other bridal party members should offer their assistance. Help could be offered money wise, time wise, or in a labor sense.
There will be certain weekends, nights and other times that will be designated for the wedding. It is a given, between engagement parties, the showers, and just helping, there will be times that you.

Be honest with your friends, if you don't have the funds to be a part of the wedding, or you know that your business is sending you on business trip every other month, say something. Being honest right up front will ease things for everyone!!! Once you say yes, then be the best friend you can be.

Just a few friendly tips! :)

5 things as a planner I've done (and no one knew)

2011-07-24T20:11:00.000-07:00

Why this discussions came up, well I'm not 100% sure. Though I'm often doing my best to explain what we planners do beside the normal things. There are always things you just can't plan for 100% but the goal is to be ready for them and do your best for the client. Here are a quick 5 and stay tuned this week for more.

1.) Late Spring, NYC (hot), both myself and the wonderful catering manager from Josh's catering are attempting to scrub off the glue from where the florist glued down the aisle runner. Mind you we are in an Orthodox Synagogue and most items were priceless. Even though we had asked them not to glue it down, they still did and within 1/2 hour we got all the spots out. (Both of us had babies no more than a month old at this time too, so it was a nice bonding moment for us. lol)

2.) One of the shuttle vans became stuck on the dirt road to the wedding venue. This van was blocking other vans from moving up and down the road with ease and had to be unstuck right then and there. With a bunch of groomsmen on the back giving weight, and 2 up front with me, I helped push it out. I of course had to kick off my high heels at this moment but it needed to be done. Nothing better than hearing all the bridesmaid cheer with joy!

3.) Removed advertising from the wedding cake. I wish I was kidding. On the 3 tiered cake, where the ribbon connected they placed a bakery sticker. With care, I removed the stickers and turned the seams to the back just so no one knew.

4.) Different wedding, 4 tiered cake, and the catering crew is REFUSING to cut and serve the cake. First they say they weren't paid for this, then they tell me they can't get to the cake since it was tucked into a corner. In a quick moment, I picked up the WHOLE cake and carried it to a cutting table and proceeded to cut until the catering manager took over.

5.) Dried off 56 chairs due to a spot shower and then placed an umbrella onto each chair for all for all of the guests, just in case. (Yes they needed them, and yes we were able to purchase 56 all black umbrellas from the local WalMart that morning. Okay they weren't all black but pretty damn close)

Stay Tuned for more....

100 years

2011-07-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

When it comes to birthdays most of us dread them after a certain age. Though I'm sure there comes a time where you just don't mind anymore. (Note, that I am not there yet but anyways...) About 8 months or so ago, Ellen asked if I would assist in planning her aunt's 100th birthday. How could I not say YES! This is usually a once-in-a-lifetime event, and to top it off, Lena and I share the same birthday.

We celebrated this past Saturday at the Arbors in Manchester. Lena was surrounded by family, friends and her best friend Barbara who is 95. These ladies have been friends since they were in their 20's. Lena may be 100 but shows no real signs of slowing down and I started thinking what would I want to have accomplished if I'm lucky enough to reach 100.

I'm not looking for fame or fortune, since I feel fortunate enough being able to have a job that I love. It gives me great joy and I don't see ever really stopping this one side of me. So what else do I want by 100...

Well, I would like to know that I've raised my children to be the best gentlemen they can be. To have love for life, to never expect to be given anything but appreciative of what they have and I hope they find something that drives them forward in life. I also hope we will be able to talk with each other (mind you we aren't in real teenage years yet, I'm sure there will be a time I don't wish to speak to them...lol), enjoy a lunch or dinner together and I want to see what drives them. My biggest wish is that I have raised two boys who will be the best of friends to each other, realizing that there will be times they will fight but at the end of the day, they need to make sure they still stand by each other. I don't want to teach them to compare themselves to each other ever but just enjoy who they will grow up to be. `

In this full life I plan to continue leading means, of course, a set of good friends. I don't need many, just good ones. I find such great pleasure in sitting around a nice campfire, with margaritas in hand discussing the old times, laughing and just enjoying time off.

I will continue to enjoy helping couples start a new chapter in their lives. I love seeing not only my couples enjoy their wedding but the rest of their lives. They become Facebook friends, and I love seeing where their married lives take them. Not sure if it will be Facebook or Google+ by the time I reach 100 but I hope I still understand how to use the programs.

In these upcoming years I would like to find the best way to carry my phone with me at weddings. You may think this is odd but most dresses don't have pockets, a fanny pack isn't going to happen so this means the phone in my bra strap most of the time. While I could go with a headset and it clipped somewhere on my body, I don't really want to look like a gap employee.

Last of all, I hope to continue to always know how to love and be loved. :)

So tomorrow I have the pleasure of not only sharing my birthday with Lena who turns 100 but also with my father. There has never been a time I didn't enjoy sharing my birthday with him. (Okay I think when he turned 68 and my mother planned an army camouflage party, but besides that one time, I've always loved it) I plan on looking at each birthday as a moment to reflect, not regret and to see what I can accomplish next.

Ocean Love

2011-07-09T15:07:00.000-07:00

We meet them all, the ones who hate to plan, and the ones that love to plan! Jessica was our girl who LOVED to plan. She had planning her wedding since the day she knew in her heart that Kris was the one and maybe not openly plan, but I know she was taking notes.

Jessica and Kris were married on May 21st of this year. We couldn't have asked for a better day and seeing how they partied throughout the entire night, I'm sure no one wanted the day to end.

Bride created this for a ring bearer!

While with every wedding there are a few ups and downs ( a missing cake, a few broken vases but everything was fixed) , it was a real pleasure to see Jessica and Kris, along with their friends and families focus on the real reason they were there. Their love!! Everything else was a bonus, a BIG FUN FILLED BONUS but they never lost focus on the fact that they were started a life together.


Jessica asked for a custom cake stand and this we did!

Mr. & Mrs

One of my favorites, a very helpful groomsman!

Our custom created card box for Jessica.

Location: Ocean Beach, New London
Gowns: Melissa Ashley Brides
Flowers: Stylish Blooms
Invitations: estoPrints (Jessica joined and heads up our invitation team due to her amazing talent)
Photography: Peter Black from Wedding Bells Photography
Planning & Design: Jessica and ESTOccasions
Make Up: Beauty Bar
Hair:
Cakes: Chocolate Rose
DJ: Jamkat Entertainment

Pic Pick

2011-07-02T05:54:00.000-07:00

Pic Pick

Which would you pick to wear if you had to (yes someone is forcing you to wear to wear one of them)

Then again maybe you would wear both. I think I would. :)

My Wedding Wish

2011-06-21T04:35:00.000-07:00

I like Boston, I really do but, what I like the best is that I can park outside of Boston and take the T in. Not yesterday though, with over 50 lbs of candy, the jars, and candles there was no way I was going take the T. I was forced to old school it since the easypass was in the other car but with my trusty GPS I headed out. I think it only recalculated a total of 6 times but in my defense it was a confusing spot.

ANYWAYS, I was there for the Wish Upon a Wedding Boston & New England Launch. This is something I've wanted to take part in for a long time. As you may know, I have a set of vendors ready to grant a wish (& a few to spare), and I'm looking forward to making sure this is something that happens a lot here in CT and New England. The issue was getting the word out to the right people when I started this and the Wish Upon a Wedding Organization is the right way to go about it.

As a wish granter, we will be doing something we already do as wedding professionals. We will be donating our skills for deserving couples to take a break for the illness and just enjoy life, and love. I think it takes the right kind of wedding professional to do this, because it isn't about the money, or the time, or a pat on the back. It is about a couple that deserves to have their moment with their family and friends. This is a personal goal I'm going to be setting for myself and ESTOccasions, to AT LEAST do 2 Wish Upon a Wedding Weddings a year.

Our cute and stylish blow pops
photographed by Jen Osojnicki.

To start off, myself along with David Long from DL Video Productions (who created last nights video, I will share as soon as I get the link) are hosting an event Engaged~Hartford at the Bushnell on August 11th. It is open to anyone who is engaged and wants to have have a modern, trendy and chic approach to their wedding. There will be a few different speakers, food, drinks and more all for $5 a person. The best part is that we are donating all ticket proceeds to the Wish Upon a Wedding Organization. This way, start planning your dream wedding while helping someone else have their dream wedding.

The ticket link will be up shortly and the best part, I'm using a paypal service which allows you to DONATE or GIFT your ticket price, which means no fees! Hope to see you at Engaged~Hartford and if you need help on becoming a wish granter let me know.

Wednesday Pic Pick

2011-06-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

We LOVE doing the love & hates weekdays on our facebook page. They have been a huge hit with all of you and thank you for all of the comments, the thoughts, the love and the hates. Now every few days we are going to post a PIC PICK. You need to tell us which one would you pick. Comment here on the blog or on facebook. Your choice.

Which would you pick to have your girls wear? Or which would you like to wear?

PICK ONE

PICK TWO

Share your comments here or on FACEBOOK. Thank you everyone. Plus if you are having a hard time picking between two things, send it to us and we will post it for you, and you can take a peek at what people think. THANK YOU

Vendor Wars

2011-06-01T05:13:00.000-07:00

I often feel that couples pick vendors that speak to them and they never consider the fact that all these different types of vendors working together could be an issue. There should never be an issue between vendors because they were all paid to do their job at the wedding and as long as they remain professional, the couple should be pleased.

Though I've been noticing a ton of frustration from my social networking vendor friends about vendors working against each other instead of working together. Seems like a lot of wasted energy that could be put towards making the couple's event successful. Being that we are in full wedding season, it has been back to back wedding, I've had the chance to see the good and the bad. Great example of consideration was Kurt from Fun Factory DJ, saying he was going to play one more slow song to allow the photographer who had been banished to totally different room to eat his dinner, time to get back to photograph the father daughter dance. He could have continued with what was planned and never given it a second thought but he knew that the couple would miss out. The best part was that while I was fetching the photographer, no one knew that the DJ had planned one extra song.

Now onto the bad, I had been given instructions by the family to make sure the vendors were able to eat throughout the event. During a break in the line at the buffet station, the photographer quickly and quietly went through the line before the next table showed up. Next before a new table went up, I sent the videographers through, (knowing they had been working with this family for close to 2 days of 10 plus hours, and needed to be fed). They went and sat on a rock outside the tent and ate quickly to ensure they could be back to work. Vendors quickly moved in and out never bothering a single guest. Now our poor bartender who was hired by the family, and I WAS TOLD to make sure she eats before her shift ends is in line with guests all around her, and the catering manager YELLS at her that vendors shouldn't be in line with the guests. Talk about an awkward moment not just for the bartender but for the guests.

As a planner, I attempt for vendors to get along, to remind them of the bigger picture. Videographers and Photographers should work out a plan of attack when it comes to the wedding. I loved hearing David from DL Video Productions once state that he tells photographers that take the first 30 seconds or minute of the first dance and then leave me the rest of the song to film them without flashes going off. This way both vendors have shown off their talent, be professional and the couple WINS.

When you meet with your vendors (or have your planner do this) let them know you expect them to work together for the success of your wedding day!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

2011-05-08T10:38:00.000-07:00

I’m often asked how I become a planner and designer and where this passion has come from. I always thought I had my answer but recently I realized it started sooner than I thought.

This passion has to have come from my mother. Granted I don’t think it was something she taught me but more like opened my eyes to it. She showed me ways to add just a touch of detail to a birthday present, or how to group together unlike items and make them seem as though they belong. And with a little extra effect, you could take something simple and make it timeless. I’ve taken this talent into my business.

One of the best gifts she gave me was my voice. Though I’m sure there were times could have done without the voice, like my teenage years just to name a few. This determined voice that I have, keeps me moving forward always. One of the best uses I’ve found is speaking up for my clients needs.

Ema, (mother in Estonian) also showed me the importance of color, and set into place a fondness just for color, the combinations, the subtleness and how a story can come from these colors. Our family photos are color coordinated, and certain holidays like Christmas are given a color scheme. I’m not speaking simple red and green, but how about sable & silver, charcoal & diamond, peach & copper and well I could go on. This years combo is Birch and Fir (I already have birch paper) There is a sense of satisfaction on finding the perfect wrapping paper or ribbon in the right color. One of my favorite parts are when couples come to me with color combinations and we discuss what works with the space and for them as a couple.

I do have to thank my mother because with her continued support for my family, and myself I am able to do what I do. There is such a comfort in knowing that my boys are in good hands when we work 12 hours on event day. Plus as an added bonus I know she is building memories with my children, which will last them a lifetime. Aitah. (Thank you in Estonian)

Happy Mother’s Day

Venue vs Home Part I

2011-04-25T07:04:00.000-07:00

Val McCormick

I'm often asked over and over and over again, which is cheaper, to host your own wedding at home or at a venue? We will be having a series of different blogs in the upcoming months demonstrating the pros and cons to both.

I'm going to start with food, because well I have a love and hate with wedding food. During wedding season my main meal of weekends tend to be wedding dinners. In my years of being a planner, I've had countless servings of chicken, most pretty typical and a few beyond horrible. One to the biggest differences is the control over what you serve and how much it will cost you when it comes to venue vs. home wedding.

The Sweetest Days

What I tend to find is that banquet halls, not all of them but the majority have set packages. Pick two of these 4 entrée choices, 4 passed appetizers, and one stationary table of crackers and cheese and it will cost you this much. You can always upgrade and add another app, or another entrée from their list but of course this is a different higher priced package. Now it is true that some cooks at venues are willing to create something off the list but it isn't typical, or it will cost you a great deal more. I do give a lot of credit to certain venues because they have worked to create packages that are fresh and creative compared to what they use to serve.

The Sweetest Days

One of the perks to a set venue is that you aren't renting chairs, tables, china and linens usually. Though you should ask how much of your per person price is for those items and how much honestly goes towards the food. I think it is a good thing to know.

Val McCormick Photography

Now when you work with just a caterer who comes to your home, if you pick the right type of caterer you have a lot more control over the type of food you will be serving. With the right company, they can create a menu around your culture, certain loves, and allergies while staying within the budget you give them. Things to remember are that you may be adding to your rental fees, staffing fees and even travel fees at times. Make sure in your contract it is written out in a way you can understand, let them break up the food cost, staff cost and taxes and such. One of the things I love is that you are honestly creating a menu that is your own. No one else is really ever going to have the exact same menu. I need to say a few of my favorite caterers are Hop River Cafe and Gourmet Galley. The food is amazing and they are cost effective without letting your guests know you were being cost effective.

The Sweetest Days

Things to ask your venue and or your caterer is how much local food do they use, how creatively can they display your food, and what do they do with the left overs?? You should always have a tasting, no matter what. It may sound good on paper but it may not taste good or look good.

These are just a few things to ask and find out for yourself. Having knowledge of knowing how the funds are being used will give you peace of mind. That fact doesn't depend on if you use a venue or a caterer.

Remembering your Day

2011-04-06T16:01:00.000-07:00

Wedding day has come and gone and I often find that my couples say it happened so fast. They swear we just started planning, discussing colors and picking dresses. Then the next thing is saying "I do", feeding each other cake and dancing the night away. What happens in between can seem like a blur. Most them attempt to calmly await their wedding photographs and it can be seem like forever to most couples. When they finally do see the photographs, they are often reminded of great moments. Some of course that they never saw, so now imagine if you had a movie of your wedding day.

I've had the pleasure of seeing the difference between videography and cinematography thanks to DL Video Productions. David Long, the mastermind behind DL Video Productions, not only loves what he does, he also has the talent to go along with the passion. Recently my booth was next to his booth at the CT Spring Bridal Event and I spent time watching his movies. They were amazing to watch, at times I couldn't look away. It was missing the older style of videography, with fades, flashy graphics and things that end up being distracting instead of adding to the movie. David makes a point to capture the day without invading the day, which is a preconceived notion for many, there is no CAMERA in your face or bright lights. David uses the natural light, and nothing is staged. He may recommend that a couple move towards a part of the venue that has great windows or a spot to have a private moment but this is only to high light the beauty of the day.

Check out David's favorite movie so far...I'm sure it wasn't easy to pick. I know I wasn't able too, hence the reason I made him pick. :) Heather & Bobby's Winter wonderland wedding is breathtaking to watch. There are more to see on his blog. It is worth joining his page on Facebook as well because David hosts Open Houses. This is a chance to come meet the crew, see what they can do and of course receive a discount. They are about to have OPEN HOUSE WEEK!!! Bridal Open House at their Studio in Wilbraham MA - Go learn more about their Cinematography style and their packages.

April 7, 2011 6-8pm
April 9, 2011 2-4pm
May 5, 2011 6-8pm
Receive up to $500 off our packages if you book at the Open House. Call 413-374-9677 to R.S.V.P. or email david@dlvideoproductions.com

David and I are working on an upcoming event, details to follow soon. DL Video Productions will of course be at our Fall CT Bridal Event in November too.

Wedding Tips in your Pocket

2011-04-04T05:29:00.000-07:00

Our clients all know how to reach me, via phone, email, text and in person. We love offering them the comfort of having a wedding professional they can reach any time. I love taking a stressful moment and being able to give them an answer that relaxes them.

Now for the time being we are offering a free wedding tip line! That is right, a quick resource for you during your planning. The WTIP (wedding tip) Think, you are standing in the bridal shop, reading your contract and you have question. TEXT us! Or maybe you have a bridal party issue, and need the best way to handle the issue, TEXT us! Don't know what to have your reader read during your ceremony? TEXT us! Simple, free and think of it as having a wedding planner in your pocket! Thank you to ESTOccasions & CT Bridal Event.

860-704-WTIP

9847

Remember normal text fees apply due to your own phone company service. We add no fees, and we of course don't spam text. One free tip for each phone number.

Spring Bridal Event & Beyond

2011-03-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we hosted our first Spring Bridal Event at the Crocker House in New London. While I've done weddings at the location, and have always loved it, it felt like the right place to host a bridal event. First day of Spring seemed perfect and it did to about 4 other bridal show companies too. :) While the crowds weren't crazy even though we had a nice amount register, the couples were great! They took their time engaging all the vendors. I saw many walk around over and over again.

The best part of the day, was during set up. Watching other vendors assist each other was heart warming. We had linens from Arrow Paper Party Rental and we ended up needing more. It was refreshing seeing vendors share and make it work. Thank you to Sara Faella for creating an art filled fashion show. Her Beauty squad made the already amazing models look shine and a special thank you to Samantha Sojka, Miss Connecticut Teen for joining us as a model. It was great to see how the looks worked with the gowns.

There were so many wonderful vendors and I thank them all for the great time, effort and work. Thank you. Visit there links on the website.
~ESTOccasions~~Wedding Reports.com~~Crocker House~~Love Me Two Times~~Kim Bova Photography~~Windham Gardens~~Honeysuckle Pictures~~Candles by Laura~~Sweetest Day Photography~~Lia Sophia (Denise Fleming)~~HGK Designs~~Chocolate Rose~~Get Married~~estoPrints~~Caster Creations Photography~~Tiff's Wicked Cakes~~DL Video Productions~~Sara Faella~~Hop River Catering~~Omar Photography~~UConfections~~Athena Party~~Marie Tyler Wiley, JP~~The Budget Lady~~Connecticut Photo Booth~~Stella & Dot~~Bliss Bridal~~Beauty Bar~~ Jamkat Entertainment~

It is hard to believe that it has already been 5 years since we started the CT Bridal Event and now have expanded to Spring Events. To think, we started in this tiny little tent, and weren't sure we could pull it together in 3 short months to now, partnering with Wedding Reports and continuing the work. I have to thank my hard working crew, and of course Chris from Wedding Reports.com. We are working on a lot of cool things for this year and beyond. I like making sure our shows have a personal touch, a show where you can connect with the couples. Just this morning I signed a bride & groom from the event this morning. :)

Our fall CT Bridal Event will take place at the UConn Alumni Center, which has been its home for the past 4 years. The event takes place Sunday, November 6 from 11 to 3. What we are doing differently this year is that on Friday, the 4th, we let vendors come and start to set up. Then they can stay and join us for a WedWork networking event. Free to all wedding professionals, speak with a trade show master and network. We figured this was a great way to get some of that morning set up rush out of the way and get in some networking too.

Windham Gardens

Uconfections

Wedding Planner Saves

2011-03-16T05:38:00.000-07:00

I've said it before and I'm sure I will say it again but there tons of benefits to using a planner. Planners offer you savings in many differently be it saving you money, time, mistakes, and more. I reached out to a few fellow Connecticut Planners to ask to name a few of their favorite SAVES.

I asked Carisa from CR Socials what was one of her favorite saves. She had been able to negotiate a brides photography package from $4200 down to $2100, by making sure the package only included things that the bride needed. She also has shown couples how a wedding date can change the price. As a planner, she can guide you to venues and packages that will work best for your wallet.

Michelle Neff from Dreaming Tree Events finds her biggest savings come in the venue selection and flowers. While most planners aren't florist, we have great understanding of expensive flowers, local flowers and what small changes can do to your floral budget. When it comes to centerpieces the cost depends mostly on the type of flowers. Michelle likes to remind her clients to be open to different suggestions in the flowers and helps in alternative options. When it comes to venues she says "I tend to think a lot of brides get nervous about non-ball room sort of locations because they are worried about what guests might think of it being different so they just go with what is familiar and fall into the "package deal." Connecticut if filled with a selection of places to rent for very little and Michelle likes to find the right place for each couple.

I love when I can save here and then there and little bit more here, and all of the sudden the clients see a huge savings when you put it all together. When working with a planner, no matter which one, we are filled with guidance, cost effective ideas and of course we offer peace of mind. How much is your peace of mind worth??

Excitement in our neighborhood

2011-03-12T06:02:00.000-08:00

This past week, I had a chance to sit down with a developer here in Mansfield CT. He is developing an amazing wedding venue and wanted a planners input. It was fun to bring years of experience in venue shopping with clients to this meeting. The blue prints were impressive and it was a fun afternoon swapping ideas, and making suggestions. I of course had to force the issue that the woman's restrooms need to be bigger, a cocktail party space is needed and an extra bar area. I can't wait to see how this all progresses.

Naked Post

2011-03-11T20:48:00.000-08:00

Wondering about the title...my post is naked cause I lack photos right now...

In a sense of the familiar, I found myself today at the UConn Alumni Center. A venue I love, due to the fact it has been home to CT Bridal Event, 4 out of the 5 years, the space can handle numerous looks, and it does happen to be right down the street from me, just to name a few things. I did have the pleasure of working with a few new and old vendors, which I love. It gives us a chance work together in a fun setting.
Erin from Windham Gardens Floral Design created a few masterpieces and then of course continued to create on site. That is always the best. Another bonus for me, is that she took one of our special rentals, and I can't wait to see what she creates!! Lauren from UConfections dropped off an amazing cake, and even though we couldn't eat it, at least visually it was a masterpiece. The ladies from Beauty Bar totally delivered, and treated one my brides (being a great model today) as a goddess. Hair and Make up was well, breathtaking and left her fiancé speechless. (By the way, they are having a March sale, totally worth checking out) The extra bonus came when one of them was willing to play model with an extra dress from Love Me Two Times. This is what happens when students don't show up like they are suppose to, and we always have a plan b. :)
Of course the image master was Dave Field from Strawberry Road Creative. I am patiently awaiting to see what he captured (or at least I am pretending to be, and I haven't facebook harassed him yet) It is always a pleasure to work with talent, that for one has a great sense of of humor, passion for what he does and I hope knows better than to photograph me.
It was fun to mix it up at a location that I've always enjoyed and with such a great crew. We even had time to swap a few marriage and raising children stories and laugh. I find it interesting when I get to see how others balance the business side with the personal side.

To Top it Off

2011-03-04T11:12:00.000-08:00

From one of our weddings

How to top off your wedding cake??? Well, there is no rule on what needs to be on top. It is a great place to add a creative touch that is an example of both of you. Plus don't feel like you need to be shopping in a "wedding" store to find this perfect topper.

Flowers by Custom Floral

The frogs are salt & pepper shakers that the bride just loved. While frogs were not the theme of the wedding, the bride did want to bring in a touch of herself into the cake topper. The cost of the salt and pepper shaker were a fraction of the cost of something similar from a wedding site. In love with your wedding flowers?? You can order extra flowers from your florist or consider sugar flowers. It is always important to compare the price and make sure if you go with edible flowers you are happy with the look.

Sweetest Days Photography

Erin from the Chocolate Rose Bakeshop, suggested that you discuss your ideas with your baker. It is important to factor in the weight of the topper. "The weight of the topper- it never fails to amaze me what some of these cake topper manufacturers will produce: some of these items weighing 3 pounds or more, forgetting that what it's going on top of is, in fact, a cake." Another point to consider is making sure the base is proportionate to the height. You can't have a 8 to 10 inch tall topper sitting on a 2 inch base. It will topple and fall and Erin has had to place the topper in front of the cake. If you do know what you plan on putting on top, make sure to show it to your baker.

Uconfections

Not 100% sure what to put on top, why not a token from where you got engaged. Check out the Mickey & Minnie, any guesses on where he popped the question?? Or why not just have the topper be a part of the cake, like this creation by Uconfections. These boxes needed a bow and it was a perfect touch. The point is that no matter what you put on top, a monogram, a family heirloom or if you create your own topper, let it be an example of you as a couple.

Purple Haze

2011-02-24T06:19:00.000-08:00

Purple & Black Winter Wedding! Thank you Sweetest Days Photography

There is no denying it, last wedding season and the upcoming wedding season PURPLE is everywhere! Be it an eggplant, plum, or violet, it is still purple. The Pantone color guide is filled with interesting names for the color. (Purple & Black were big this past winter. Sweetest Days Photography sent us one from their wedding and check out our purple and black candy buffet we created at Lake of Isles.)

While there are certain colors that are limited in style use, and purple isn't one of them. It can work with every season, darker shades during the winter months, and cooler & brighter shades during the spring & summer months. I'm sure it will run it's course like the pinks of the past but the great thing is that sooner or later it will return to the IT color status. Anyone who has been in the wedding business for years sees this happen!

A Little Imagination Cakes (located in Middletown CT) has been creating cakes with purple, not just for weddings. It works for all types of events, birthdays and showers included. The color works in a naturalistic aspect like the flower blossoms, and a whimsical aspect for the sweet 16 cake.

The important thing to remember is that while you may love this color, make sure it works within the space of your event. If happen to know your color pallet before hand, ask the venue how your color will work within the space. Another tip, bring along a purple linen or chair sash to check out in the space because you want to make sure it isn't fighting to be seen in the room.

Sweetest Days Photography

On a side note, while many of your love the bow on the back of a chair cover, the simple knot will last the entire night.

I end this blog with an engagement photo showing off a bit of purple.

Juna Rae Photography

Blue, Black & White

2011-02-23T13:30:00.000-08:00

As Estonian's throughout the world get ready to celebrate their independence day tomorrow, I took part in celebrating this past weekend. Not only did I get to decorate but I had my boys take part in the celebration. I wanted to create a look that hadn't been done before. Since Estonia has switched over to the European Euro I decided to pay tribute to the passing of Estonian's Kroon. I found it interesting how many specialty coins they have had over the past few years and thought it was a perfect way to celebrate the event. Each centerpiece was a different set of coins with candles in the middle. A simple and classic look.

This is my favorite coin, and I even own one. It was
created as a celebration of our flag.

It was heartwarming to see my boys take part in the celebration. Something special about seeing your 4 year old sing Estonian songs that I use to sing. Estonian was my first language and I learned English around 5. My boys have grown up with both languages being spoken in our home and they do so well with it. While my poor husband doesn't always understand us, he understands the gift we have given our children. Now granted there isn't a HUGE need for Estonian but I will say it does come in handy when you are out and about with them. :) It is a wonderful thing to be able to share not only a language but a heritage with them.

On a side note, someone on facebook has created an event for tomorrow known as "Hug an Estonian Day" and as of now over 20,000 people will be doing this tomorrow. So if you happen to be "lucky" enough to see one us Estonian's tomorrow, feel free to hug them.

Winter Wonderland Photo Shoot

2011-02-20T19:43:00.000-08:00

After the first snow fall, I thought how much fun it would be to go out and play in it. What was wonderful was how many of you out there wanted to. Of course after that first snow storm, we had a little bit more snow, then more and well you know how this story goes.

***SNOW...SNOW...SNOW***

SNOW was in control but it turns out that 3 or so feet of snow couldn't stop us from playing. Donna from Caster Creations said she was up the challenge, the fun and she came prepared with snow boots.

Make Up by Adriana Bomova Pacuku
from the Beauty Bar

Jessica Watcke from Bliss Bridal wanted to come out and play with a few of the amazing dresses from her shop. She understood what she would be doing and never complained once. She was able to sit down into the snow (behind the scenes we made sure the dresses were never ruined.) Jessica was a blast because she was always more concerned with the dress than her own comfort. At times it was challenging getting around but I think we were able to really go with it. I just needed to share a few more. The shoot was great but the best part is what we are planning next....stay tuned

Networking~Wedwork

2011-02-11T07:31:00.000-08:00

Date was changed
due to snow

I had a great time meeting so many event & wedding professionals at Wedwork last night. It was about time we all stepped away from the computer screens to socially network without facebook for once. Plus on event day, I don't really get a chance to sit down and chat as much as I would like too. Our event was suppose to take place a week ago but due to this crazy snow and ice we had been having, we decided to postpone for safety and parking spaces.

Thank you to all of the students from event club that came out too. These students are learning all the pros, cons and truth about the event fields, from catering, cake design, planning and more. I'm looking forward to being a guest speaker at one of their gatherings. (I just need to figure out how to get past my dislike for public speaking). Plus it was nice to swap ideas, share tips, stories and come up with future endeavors with certain vendors. Stay Tuned to SEE!

Chocolate Rose Treat

Thank you to my co host Julie from the UConn Alumni Center, her support, helpfulness and ideas make for great events. Thank you to Taylor Rental of Manchester for donating the linens and china used. We know that they had a rough week due to snow damage at their West Hartford location and are thankful for their continued support. Taking care of Tummies, took care of the food and the bar. Thank you for the yummy cheese fondue, curry deviled eggs and more. The Alumni Center walls glowed thanks to PartyPro DJ company. Thanks to the Two Pour Guys provided us with a prize basket for the business card raffle, Chocolate Rose & Diane's Sweet Treats for yummy cake goodies.

I also enjoyed the chance to use my cute Christmas gift flower bud vases along with very cool water marbles. These aren't your typical marbles and help spread the water around in the vase. Julie and I are working on a professionals weekend, with speakers, mix and mingles, and more, along with another wedwork in a few months. Thanks again to the professionals, the brides (who dared to be out numbered by the wedding professionals), and to all the helpful hands.

I'm glad that most of you didn't have to see me chase water
marbles that slipped out my hand during set up. They are squishy
and difficult to catch at times.

Ringing in the new

2011-02-04T10:26:00.000-08:00

Hanlon Photography

I've been on a ring kick, if you didn't happen to notice on our fan page (yes I still refuse to say my "like" page). Rings have always been a fascination for me, since I was a child. My mother use to be one of the few people I know that didn't wear her engagement ring and wedding band together. I think I've only had maybe 3 brides who have worn them on separate hands. What I find amazing is that in all my years of planning, with the exception of maybe a simple gold band, I have yet to see the same ring twice. Each one has a story, be it a piece of family history, one created for the bride that breaks everything, wedding rings flown in from Ireland and the stories go on.

The circular ring symbolizes eternity and this was passed onto us all from many ancient cultures. For some there is a belief that rings inner space is the door way to what lies ahead for the couple. With no beginning or end, it had a spiritualistic outlook for the couple.

Val McCormick Photography

Rings these days are made from numerous different types of metals, another reason why I don't think I often see the same type of rings over and over. We all have a type, style and color we are drawn too. When it comes to the detailed shots that many photographers take, I often wonder what inspires them. I asked Val McCormick of Val McCormick Photography what inspires her shots. "I love showcasing the personalities of my couples through the images I create for them. Getting married is one of life's grandest emotional times. It should be documented down to every little detail. If the couple has something sentimental such as their grandfather's old camera on display, a piano the grew up playing, or a love for the art displays at their venue I find a to tie it in. I love to envision fifty years down the road the couples' great grandchild enjoying their album and not just seeing images but rather seeing the couple for who they were, what they loved and how much they loved or love each other."

I even made a few new fans who were willing to share their puppy balancing a ring on the nose. It is one of those photographs that you can't help but love.

MW Photography

Flint Prints Photography

As you might be able to tell, we gave our blog a whole new look. Thank you to Flint Prints Photography for providing us with the awesome ring shot. We are also showcasing it on our newly redone website. It was a difficult choice to pick just pick one. I fell in love with MW Photography's ring on the tree shot the second I opened it. I was also inspired by her new look, a new life, and new beginning to ring in something new for me. I can't thank them enough for letting my site use their photographs. I hope you enjoy the new look of the blog and the website. Plus stay tuned for all the exciting things we will be ringing in shortly.

If the shoe fits...

2011-01-31T18:10:00.000-08:00

Dawn Binz Photography

If the shoe fits, wear it!!! Every single bride has a different sense of style and love for their wedding shoes. It is interesting to see how much shoe style has changed over the years. There seems to be an exciting flair added to shoes, be it color, texture, or a special surprise (like "I do" written on the bottom) and I have to say I LOVE IT. I find it a way to complete your own look. My brides of the past have worn cowboy boots (see the shoes to the left, these were my brides but she switched to the boots pretty quickly), everyday kitten heels, and even deep purple UGG boots.

Val McCormick Photography

My one wish is that my brides enjoyed wearing their wedding shoes a bit more. These pieces of art should be enjoyed throughout the event, instead of being tossed underneath the sweetheart table and exchanged for flip flops. If you happen to be a ballet shoes type of girl then stick with what you love from the start. I know us girls love to kick off the shoes and dance. Though I've learned that breaking in your shoes is worth it. (As the planner I do kick off my shoes during set up but once it all starts, the shoes stay on.) Break them in by cooking dinner in them, taking a spin around your home dance floor (any open space in your own home), and wear them while you put your make up on. This isn't a must-do but it does help you get the most out of your stylish investment. If you do happen to get them a tiny bit dirty BABY WIPES tend to be the answer to getting them clean.

Anything that plays a role in your detail shots for wedding day should be ENJOYED! There are many clever and creative ways to showcase them. As you can see due to the talented photography eye of Val McCormick of Val McCormick Photography, who was kind enough to let us share these last four photographs. My last bit of tidbit for the evening is to remember shoes can your something new or something blue...

The Difference...

2011-01-28T07:59:00.000-08:00

The hot topic for the week, wedding vs. marriage. In one form or another, the topic has come up a few times in different settings. As a wedding planner, of course I'm all for weddings!! I love them, I love the different ideas and styles that can be created. Plus I honestly believe that with the correct type of planning and realistic outlook, an outstanding wedding can be pulled together. It was upsetting to me that people acted as though I don't know the difference. Yes planning & designing is my job but I'm not blind to the big picture, the purpose or the reason.

90210 TV Show Wedding

Marriage is the life after the wedding. This is the long lasting relationship, everyday life, and continuing story of the couples love. This should be the reason WHY you had the ceremony part of the wedding in the first place. The ceremony doesn't take more than the couple, someone to marry them, and a couple of witnesses (or being surrounded by their friends and family). At times, we've taken part in creating private ceremonies for couples. (This might date me, but I'm sure a few of you just thought of the 90210 marriage of Dylan and Toni's wedding, private ceremony, and party with friends and family after.) I personally feel that a ceremony should be an example of who you are and where you have come from. A ceremony should be magical, life changing, and very personal for the couple getting married.

Amy Salerno Photographer (and one of our cute cute couples)

Now when it comes to a wedding, you need to do it right, and what is right for you as a couple!!! To have a quality reception, you first need to figure out a budget, one that works for you. See earlier blogs on budget, but I'm going to say you shouldn't invite 200 guests & then be upset that you need to feed them and that you can't afford to have the other things you wanted. In the words of Valeen from Sweetest Days Photography, "Cut the guest list down to a manageable size, say no to the mom's bridge club or the dad's hunting buddies and whoever else it is that really isn't close to you and then do a quality reception where all the guests really love you and enjoy the day with you." A wedding can be held anywhere, in a backyard, someone's home, the beach, hotel, or a hall. While location doesn't matter, it is what you do with the location. It is how you bring together your voice as a couple and create a wedding that is an example of the two of you!

Thank you thesweetestdays.com

Plus, it has been my experience (professional and personal) when a person short changes themselves in a wedding, they tend to regret this for years to come. I've planned wedding renewals because the bride missed out on having her father give her away, or the couple didn't get a chance to have their first dance and the reasons keep coming.

A ceremony is the act of coming together as a married couple, the wedding reception is the party celebrating this fact and the marriage is the years that follow!! (I will be celebrating 15 years of marriage this April. :)

Monday Model Magic

2011-01-24T15:31:00.000-08:00

For the past 3 years, I've been asked over and over again to expand from just our CT Bridal Event. The CT Bridal Event will be celebrating 5 years this fall... wow how time has flown. While I look to improve it each year, I also don't want to lose why and what the show was created for. This year, due to the wonderful helping hand of Chris from WeddingReports.com and the support of a handful of returning vendors, we have expanded.

Now as we wait for spring (some more than others; I happen to be a winter lover, though -8 degrees is not the way I like to start out my day), I wanted to be able to share the exciting news. As you may or may not know, the extremely talented Sara Faella, Artist~Designer~Stylist will be creating a one of a kind, well two of a kind fashion shows. One geared to be Vintage Glam Show (think glitzy/glamorous vintage accessories and dresses) and then a Couture Fashion Show (one of a kind/handmade accessories and dresses only)! To top off this excitement, we have added a famous CT model to our the show!!!

Let me introduce you all to Samantha Sojka, the crowning Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2011! I did a little dance and squeal of happiness when Samantha first emailed us and it is possible Sara might have done the same thing.

Samantha describes herself as ambitious, confident and

genuine, which are all wonderful traits to have. In her own words "I am an 18 year old freshman in college, who has been able to stay away from negative peer pressure, drugs and alcohol. I want to help teenagers learn that they do not have to turn to drugs and alcohol and show them through leading by my example. I am also a very active member throughout my community. I am part of a young women’s empowerment group, promote healthy lifestyles, fund raise for cancer research, and am very involved in dance. I hope to travel throughout Connecticut promoting community events, meeting new people, and learning more about the state of Connecticut. My goal, for this next year, is to be the first young woman from Connecticut to become MissTeen USA."

Runway Ready

I can hardly wait for Sara to put the touch of her style for the fashion show! If we have a wonderful perfect spring day, then the fashion show will be taking place in the courtyard. Make sure to reserve your front row seats by registering for your bridal event tickets now. Reserved seats will be limited, just so you all know.

coming soon

2011-01-20T16:10:00.000-08:00

I think this says it all, for right now at least.

Photo Booth Fun

2011-01-17T06:42:00.000-08:00

Just a month or so ago we had the pleasure of working with Connecticut Photo Booths at Stephanie's & Steven's wedding. The photo booth was a huge hit, providing the guest with a photo strip to keep and one strip for the guest book, and overall it was fun!

Our bride and groom insisted that all the vendors take a turn in the booth and the challenge was born. The two videographers were in first and they did bring a clever creative touch to their photos. They grabbed all of their gear and see what they created...

As a planner, I could have brought in my folders, copies of all the paperwork, our centerpiece designs, our table card numbers, escort cards and more but that would have been a bit difficult to carry into the booth. I decided, along with my staffer Robyn, that we should grab the bride and groom. Of course Stephanie and Steven were up for it and a pretend fight broke out.

I want to make it clear that is the husband's hand on his wife in the last photo, just saying! :) The last ones to enter the booth were the talented photographers from Studio Foto. There was a lot of happiness in the booth since all four were newlyweds. Plus the cameras were able to take part in the photographs too.

Now I know the awesome DJ, Kurt from Fun Factory, did have his photograph taken, but the only copy I have is the one in the book. It is a little hard to see, but it is a great photograph. At least you are able to see a quick look at the guest book. The guest book was a custom created book, staying true to their winter wedding theme and colors. A nice touch that the Connecticut Photo Booth staff does is display the pages before putting them all in the book. While guests were in line, it gave them a chance to check them out.

We have worked with many different "photo booth" companies and have to say that Connecticut Photo Booth is in our top three of them. They send an experienced employee to work the booth throughout the event and they are there to handle the entire system. This is important because if there is an issue with printing, or the color of the photos, they are on top of it right then and there.

The set up of the booth is top notch too. This isn't a bunch of PVC pipes held together with duct tape and a curtain that needs 2 or 3 people for set up. You wouldn't want a booth that looks like it could fall over if someone brushes against it, and you feel comfortable putting more than 2 people into it. Connecticut Photo Booth provides a great set up, and it doesn't take away from your event.

When interviewing a photo booth company, it is important to ask about their rates, how many photographs you will receive, how much space they need for set up, how much time they need for set up, and if someone will be on site for the entire event that knows what they are doing.

Midnight surfer

2011-01-13T12:31:00.000-08:00

The snow came and kept coming for sure yesterday! It was amazing how much we got, since I feel like it has been a lifetime since I've seen that much snow. Granted it did halt a few things we had in the works for yesterday, it wasn't the end of the world. It gave me a chance to sit back, review and answer emails. It also brought something I've noticed many times to my attention again.

We tend to have more traffic to our websites, facebook, blog and more inquires. I get the feeling many of brides were stuck at home and this was a great way to spend the day. Surfing and seeing what is out there. Just like I notice between the hours of midnight and 1 am and lunch time tend to be our other highest traffic times. I admit that I am a midnight surfer. Something comes to mind, and I have to go check it out which leads to looking at more and more things.

A Helping Wedding Hand

2011-01-11T17:34:00.000-08:00

The diagnoses of cancer can be life altering, and while fighting it, many people have to put certain things on hold. We don’t feel that your love for each other should be affected. We have pulled together with other wedding professionals to be able to provide one lucky couple a wedding. While you are busy getting well, we are busy putting together your wedding. Submit your story to www.estoccasions.com by Valentine’s Day. Tell us about how you met, the engagement, why we should pick your love story, and anything else you feel like sharing. Please keep your submissions to 1200 words or less.

I will be blogging more about his shortly..just needed to get the word out!!!

Finally...2011

2011-01-03T18:58:00.000-08:00

Finally, 2011… and I welcome it with open arms. While 2010 was filled with joy, there were some difficult times too, which is why I can’t honestly be sad to see it go.

I had such a mix of events & weddings, my first Cassidy Hill Vineyard “PLANNED” wedding. (I was told by the owner that a couple rode up on their bikes with a JP, said a few quick vows, enjoyed a glass of wine and left. This was their real first wedding, and they prefer people book the place in advance.) My first destination wedding was to Boca Raton, FL where I was able to take my family and it was nice to mix pleasure with business. I also reassured myself that I am a New England type of girl. The hot Florida sun doesn’t mix well with me. I even had the pleasure of enjoying a wedding where guests were encouraged to play bocce ball, and the family dog joined in for the first dance. Oh yes, they even had guests play a drawing game. It has been such a great mix of different styles, colors, themes and events throughout the year. While I did continue to grow by adding estoPrints to our services, I also had the pleasure of having an intern for about 2 hours. Once she started to do some work, and she realized that party planning isn’t just socializing and attending parties all the time, she quit. I grew and shrank at the same time. J

We took part in 2 different charity events and while Firefly wasn’t all I had wished it could be, I’m still glad I put in all of my efforts. I’m thrilled to see how a community came together to give the camp a great event. Now I wish they had invited more people but at least all who attended had a wonderful time. We followed it with Comedians Conquering Cancer Event for the CT Children’s Medical Center. All the funds went to their oncology/hematology ward’s family assistance fund, and this helps parents purchase fuel and food, pay their bills, and helps out in everyday life. Having a mother of a sick child hug me and thank me was a moment I will never forget. Plus it was nice to see everyone come and just sit back and laugh.

I feel like for the most part, 2010 wasn’t that bad of a year. So what if my husband is still unemployed. We could mope and linger in this. Instead, we look at the good from it. He is able to spend extra time with our boys, fixes up the home and overall has been a great support.

We did have our one weekend from hell. It was a crazy mix of stormy weather, my first car accident, a verbally abusive client, and a bit of failure on my end. While I’m thankful my car wasn’t damaged a great deal on the outside (unlike the student Matt’s car), I did have broken items inside the car and when it happened, I just did the right thing. We exchanged information, and waited for the cops. I realized shortly after that I was hurt, even though I attempted to ignore it. Forward we went to the weddings, where we did our best to make sure everything was done, recover damaged items and move forward. While we had a few shortcomings for sure, we owned them and continued on. I’m thankful my crews remained calm and did their best to handle it all throughout the weekend.

I followed it up with our 4^th CT Bridal Event, Thanksgiving decorations for a few of my past clients, and an amazing sun-filled winter wedding (missing the snow) at the Lake of Isles. Then came holiday parties, winter bashes, holiday decorations and then I suddenly found myself in the new year.

I have seen the best and the worst in people this year, including in myself, and to be able to know how to do the right thing is a blessing. I am thankful for all of the talented vendors I have worked with. There is a core group of you that I enjoy seeing even outside of a wedding setting. J I’m most thankful for my clients, who continue to allow us to assist them in creating their dreams. It is wonderful to remain friends with my couples after the fact and I am thrilled to announce that 2 of them are expecting their first children this year. YIPPIE!!

I wanted to add that, I love what I do, and I know I am talented at what I do, but I am still human. I may forget my pen in the car, I may allow someone to talk down to me so they don’t talk down to my bride, but I remember what my clients want and I do my best to get it for them. I listen to rants, vents, and cries along with the bursts of laughter and tears of joy. I don’t mislead, I attempt to keep everyone happy and I do not control the weather (at least not yet, but give me time). These are little things that come along with being a planner and I wouldn’t have it any other way. So needless to say, I’m ready for 2011 and all of the exciting weddings, events, our first Spring Bridal Event, our 5^th CT Bridal Event and more!

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T09:24:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!! In the new year we will be catching up on blogging for sure. We have loved 2010 but we are ready for 2011!! The new year means new trends, new looks, and new couples who we get to assist on making their dreams come true. Plus with this new year comes an extra bridal show in the spring, an eat, drink and get married night, wedwork, photoshoots and more!

I bet you may be wondering what we will be offering for our January special. Here is it, if you book your wedding day coordinating by the 12th, it will only be $500* for your event. (*contact us for details, this offer is only good for weddings up to 125 guests, no holiday weekends, must be a CT wedding. Contact us for full details.) Plus we will be taking $200 off any other packages booked by the end of the month. Happy 2011~~~~~

Let's take a spin around the dance floor

2010-11-20T20:13:00.000-08:00

Val McCormick Photography
This is their moment!

The first dance: will you high school shuffle, or have every single step choreographed? Do you take all 3 minutes for yourselves or do you invite the wedding party to join in? Will your guests be sitting or asked to surround the dance floor? Most couples either have these questions or have never even thought about it. The most important thing is to remember to go with what you are comfortable with (and discuss your plan with your photographer to make sure they capture the moment in the best way).

Sweetest Days Photography
Love the smile.

If the first dance is something you have been waiting for, then just enjoy the moment. A chance to spin around the dance floor as husband and wife, even while all eyes are on you, can still be a very private moment for the newlyweds. If you plan on doing an extra twirl or maybe even a dip, make sure your photographer is aware of this.

Candace Jeffery Photography
Bridal Party has the best view.

Now for others, the first dance is something they dread. If you aren't comfortable dancing, and just feel as though you aren't going to enjoy it, consider inviting the bridal party to join in the dance. I've even had couples that have asked guests to join in.

The best thing all couples can do is PRACTICE! Once a week or every other week dance to a song together. Now I don't suggest you dance to your wedding song every single time because you may end up being sick of the song, but the whole point is to make this process a bit easier. The best part of a first dance as a guest is seeing the couple really just enjoy the moment with ease.

If you plan on choreographing your song, remember to pick a dance that is at your dance level or maybe one step above. It will all depend on how much time you have to set aside for learning a new dance. If you have a misstep it is important to remember just go with it.

Mr. & Mrs. Fettig

The point is to enjoy your dance, not cause yourself extra stress. My personal favorite first dance for this wedding season (granted I have one more wedding for 2010) was Mr. & Mrs. Fettig. When they entered the dance floor, the entire room exploded with cheers and clapping. It was so loud that it caught me off guard. I would have sworn the room was filled with 300 people, not 100. I can't wait to get the professional photo of the event. This dance even beat out the couple that included their dog in the dance.

Thank you to 3 amazing Connecticut photographers, Sweetest Days Photography, Candace Jeffery Photography and Val McCormick Photography for sharing their favorite first dance moments. I know it was hard for them to pick just one!

Survival Guide for Bridal Shows

2010-10-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

CT Bridal Event

The season for bridal shows is almost upon us. Here are a few survival tips to make it through the day and really get the most out of it for your wedding.

~Remember to take your time, walk through the event and then come back to vendors you really want to connect with.

~Set up a wedding email address, and use this when you are asked to leave an email address. Make sure you do check this account often enough though, because you may be offered worthy deals, or win a prize. Brides have also found that bringing along labels with their information already printed on it is a quick way to leave your information. If you come with a group, make sure they all know what information you are willing to share with the vendors.

~Be honest. If you don't have a wedding date, tell the vendor. Don't make up a date, but do share what season you are looking at.

~If you have already have a vendor, you should still stop and at least take a look. You may see that they have other deals that you could use at a different time. If you already have a photographer, you may get photograph ideas, or you may wish to book another photographer for your Jack 'n Jill, or your shower. If you have a cake already, you may find a cake baker for your shower cake or even wedding day favors.

~Take in the ideas. Realize that at a show some of the ideas may be over the top but it is to mostly showcase that they can do anything for you. Even if you don't like the color combos, look past them and look at the idea. See what ideas you can bring to your wedding or how you can take an idea and make it your own.

~If you see something you love, like an arch, or cake stand, see if you can rent them for your day. Or ask where you could locate the item to rent or purchase. Remember some vendors do sell goods right there at the show.

~It is a good idea to think of questions for vendors before hand.

~Bring your camera along. if you fall in love with something, such as a decorum item, ask the vendor if you can take a photograph.

I know I said this before, but just to reiterate, take your time. A bridal show is suppose to bring you ideas, help you find vendors, and be an enjoyable day out with your friends and family.

For the love of Taftville

2010-10-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

I often find myself mentioning the small mill town of Taftville, and the response 80% of the time is "never heard of it". Once I mention that Taftville is considered a neighborhood of Norwich with it's own zip code, people start to have an idea of the location. Now you may ask, what happens to be in Taftville worth discussing? It is a great little New England town, with a wonderful selection of wedding gowns. That is right, I said wedding gowns, along with so much more. Love Me Two Times is an upscale consignment shop, with a bridal boutique, offering once- and never-worn wedding and formal gowns. This is the place to shop for savvy brides seeking a way to get the gown of their dreams while saving on their budget.

Designer gowns like Lazaro, Maggie Sottero, Tiffany, and more are available and no appointment is necessary. The nice thing is, brides are always welcome, no need to make an appointment and have the high pressure sale pitch. The ladies of the boutique are interested in assisting, listening, and locating "your" gown! The shop is filled with current styles, and besides just wedding gowns, think of them for your Mother of the bride & groom selections. Attending a wedding and need the perfect dress? They're always worth checking out. If the dress doesn't fit like a glove, not to fear, a seamstress can make it work.

Photo by The Sweetest Day Photography

If you're not sure of the next time you will be in Taftville, then you are in luck. Love Me Two Times will be setting up a mini bridal boutique at the 4th annual CT Bridal Event. You never know, you may find the dress of your dreams at our event. Or you may at least find the right accessories, veils, shoes, gloves, wraps and more! Plus once again, they will be offering a special $99 gown section.

Wish Upon a Wedding (Important information to Share)

2010-10-14T16:37:00.000-07:00

I felt the need to share this. I'm working on starting a branch here in CT with some great talented wedding professionals. Take a moment to read this, make a difference, and get the word out.

Wish Upon a Wedding is the world's first nonprofit wish granting organization that provides weddings and vow renewals for couples facing terminal illness or other serious life-altering circumstances. Less than one year old, the organization has 16 active chapters, and will have granted 12 wishes by the end of 2010.

During the month of November, they are hosting several fund raising galas and auctions throughout the country, and would like to invite you to participate.

Whether you are a bride or groom to be, a wedding industry professional, or you simply love the concept behind their mission... YOU can help make Wedding Wishes come true, while raising crucial funding needed to sustain this wonderful, new nonprofit organization.

Here's How:

Attend The Blissful Wishes Ball

A Gala Celebration to Benefit Wish Upon a Wedding

Chicago November 1

LA November 4

San Francisco November 10

Houston November 11

Charlotte November 12

Orlando November 14

St. Louis November 14

Baltimore November 17

Portland November 18

Atlanta November 21

The Blissful Wishes Ball is a festive way to support Wish Upon a Wedding. Enjoy a nice night out on the town with an elegant dinner, entertainment, music, dancing, and incredible auction items.

Buy your tickets today!

Bid Your Wish for Wedded Bliss

Online and Live auctions for a Worthwhile Cause

For the first time in history, couples getting married can plan their entire wedding from virtually any city in the United States, knowing that every penny they spend will go directly towards helping a couple in need. It's so EASY to bid. Find everything from invitations to flowers, catering to DJs, photography to wedding planners, honeymoons and more.

Simply visit their online auction site here to choose from hundreds of items from the industry's best vendors.

Even if you are not getting married, check it out for other exciting items, such as dinners in top-rated restaurants, entertainment, sporting events and popular autographed memorabilia. Every cent earned goes towards Wish Upon a Wedding and their mission to provide these heartfelt Wedding Wishes.

About Wish Upon a Wedding

Founded in January of 2010 by CA wedding planner, Liz Guthrie of San Jose Wedding Consultants, Wish Upon a Wedding was created to help couples who did not have the time, money, resources or strength to plan a wedding on their own, because of terminal illness or other serious life-altering circumstances. The organization now celebrates the courage, determination and spirit of these couples by granting their dream wedding wishes. It is their goal that chosen recipients can inspire other couples facing similar situations to find hope and strength, while raising awareness for terminal illness.

Growing up with a sister who was deaf since birth, and raised by parents who ran a board and care home for people facing numerous disabilities and life hardships, Liz learned early on to value the many blessings in life, and the importance of helping others. Volunteering throughout her life for a variety of nonprofit organizations, Liz was looking for a way to combine weddings and community service.

After producing the San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway in 2009, a contest in which only one couple would be granted a dream wedding, Liz came up with a way to merge her two passions. While going through the process of giving the wedding "prize" to a woman suffering from stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Liz created Wish Upon a Wedding. Overnight, Liz decided to change wedding history, and the way we give, by launching a nonprofit organization that was totally unique and had never existed before.

Supported by industry leaders such as Sasha Souza, David Beahm, Stella Inserra, Jenny Orsini, Kevin Covey, Stacie Francombe, Sylvia Weinstock, Steve Kemble, Mindy Weiss, Mary Dann, and Ivy Robinson (to name just a few), the organization has experienced rapid growth and seen voracious acceptance throughout the country.

To date, eight couples have benefited from the generous work of Wish Upon a Wedding. Over 4,000 volunteers have signed up to become Wish Granters. Their facebook page has attracted over 10,000 fans.

None of this would be possible without public support.

In Loving Memory of Wish Recipients who have Passed On

Dani and Tony married in St Louis on September 1. She passed away September 30th. Dani had suffered from Cystic Fibrosis since age 3, and had recently received a double lung transplant.

Florence and Micheal married near Sacramento on March 13. She passed away on September 28. Florence battled stage IV breast cancer, and was diagnosed with six months to live at the time of her wedding.

Shelly and Jay married in Seattle on May 2. Shelly passed away three weeks later. She had been battling a rare type of cancerous lymphoma, and Jay suffered from Multiple Sclerosis.

Please help Wish Upon a Wedding continue to do great things.

Attend a Gala. Donate to or bid in the auctions.

And help them spread the word, by sharing this article with your friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances.

You CAN make a difference in someone's life today!

Rushing through the Summer & Fall

2010-09-28T19:30:00.001-07:00

We have been rushing through events after events. I've been promising to catch up on the blogs shortly...

Better than a town hall wedding

2010-07-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

Last year, in the summer, a very sweet lady gave me a call. She and her girlfriend were coming to visit her daughter here in Connecticut. Upon arriving, they decided it was the right time to get married, but they hadn't planned anything and they weren't sure they had enough time to pull something together. They were going to get married at the town hall, even though they would have loved to be married in her daughter's backyard. So of course I wanted them to have what they were dreaming of. I directed them towards some of our JP's that were available, they picked the one that was right for them, and then we dropped off last-minute rentals including one of our arches. In just a matter of a few hours they were having the wedding ceremony they had wanted and that was the perfect way for me to end my day.

Since then, I've wanted to be able to offer more. I've done some serious research, locating breathtaking ceremony locations that our clients can use (even last minute) including an ocean view, vineyards, woodlands, mountains, farms and more. Plus, I've put located a nice selection of JP's ready to create a personalized ceremony for you! We can put together decorations, flowers and even a cake to make sure that it can still be memorable, even if it isn't planned months or years in advance. Contact us today to see what we can do to make your wedding day complete!! kia@estoccasions.com~860-455-6057

Book Launch

2010-07-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

I spent my Monday night at the Hartford Bushnell with my girl Jessi enjoying the book launch of Grace Ormonde Weddings - "being in love never goes out of style". Now why in the world I didn't bring my normal good camera I don't know. So I put my new palm phones camera to use and then joked I'm going to start a new business. Camera Phone Wedding Photography, my rates will be really low. All joking aside the event was wonderful and it was nice to run into so many great wedding professionals. Grace Ormonde has a wonderful collection in her book and I'm thankful I was able to attend.

As you walk in, what a work of art!


As you can tell I can't do the let me take a photo by myself


Sweet, Goodie Bags! Follow the Link to her book.

The goodies in the goodie bags! Little mini cakes.

Raise your glasses and toast to the happy couple

2010-07-21T16:16:00.001-07:00

Parsons Photography

The question is of course who is paying for the drink??

Cash bars are considered “tacky” because if you were to invite friends over for dinner, you would never charge them to have something to drink. I see no issue in having a cash bar for the last hour, because this can help your guests slow down and start to take a break or switch to coffee.

Tab is one way to go; set a budget with the venue or caterer and when it is used up it is used up. It can be a good way to keep a limit on what you spend on alcohol and keep you on budget.

Brooke Schumacher Photography

I’m personally a fan of the soft bar, which means offering beer & wine for the length of your event. A few clients have added on one signature drink because it is in their budget. Either way, a soft bar offers the open bar feel but without providing everything under the sun. The truth is the majority of your guests drink wine and beer throughout the event anyway. A soft bar can be the budget friendly choice. One of our 2010 weddings offered beer options, red and white wine and a wonderful blueberry sangria.

Then comes the great and grand open bar. If it is in your budget, then I say go for it.

One of the biggest budget eaters is the champagne toast, and over the years, I’ve yet to find a single wedding or event where every single glass of champagne is truly enjoyed. The best way to spend your champagne budget is to put it towards your tab or soft bar and let people toast with something they will enjoy drinking.

When it comes to it, there are plenty of ways to provide your guests with something to drink that won’t destroy your budget. Consider having one less appetizer, pass on pew bows at the ceremony, and remember the little things that can add up to a big thing.

Apples to Apples

2010-06-28T11:37:00.000-07:00

Countless times I've been sitting with a couple and they start to explain how they have been comparing vendors to each other, and when asked what they are comparing, almost always the price is the only thing.

While price plays a huge factor, it should never be the only thing you compare. From a planner's aspect things to consider

Years of experience : With these years of experience comes the ability to handle any situation during your special day, the ability to work within your given time frame, and to provide you with top notch service. On your important day, you need a planner who is able to think quickly and react in an appropriate manner. Plus the ability to guide you through difficult situations effectively.
The number of events they have done and the sizes of these event.
The ability to locate vendors who will meet your budget and vision without receiving a kickback.
If they work full-time or part-time as a planner
How many hours they will provide for day-of, if you are comparing day-of services
Plus so much more but of course I'm a planner so I could go on and on... :)

These are just a few simple things to consider when comparing planners. When comparing bakers, you should know if they are able to create something custom or traditional, if they work better in buttercream or fondant and so forth. With DJ's, ask how large their selection is, do they have the newest music, do they have a back up power source (like After Hours DJ Entertainment does) and of course the quality of the equipment.

When it comes to photographer, you should be comparing the hours, extra shooters, how you will receive your photos, where they were trained, if they are comfortable with formal poses (even if that isn't what you are looking for. They need to be able to assist in making you and your guests look good in the photos.) Diane Parsons from Parsons Photography says " A good photographer should enhance the style of the couple." This means they can capture the true feeling of the event. Another very important thing to ask is how they back up the photos, do they do this at the wedding, and so forth. (Note the photo: This was one of those times were the photographer only had a few seconds to capture the boy looking up the dress but on the other hand now the bridesmaid has flowers growing out of her head...)

When it comes to florists, will they be creating standard creations or new custom ones, if they handle one or more weddings on your day, their knowledge of flowers and willingness to work with in your budget.

When all is said and done, you need to compare experience, the full services you will be receiving and perks. Always feel free to ask a vendor explain their costs, this way you will feel better about your choice. There are tons of great vendors throughout the state and when comparing, make sure you are comparing similar services.

Colorful Love

2010-06-11T16:46:00.000-07:00

We all have our favorites. The perfect shade of blue, the brightest yellow, the warmest red; and our favorites tend to be a part of our events. When picking your favorite combo or trio of colors for your wedding or event, there are things to keep in mind.

Will your colors be contrasting, like bright red with a turquoise? This is a color combo that can work amazingly but at the same time fail. You don't want them to clash. Another choice is to have complementary colors, such as blue and yellow. Or, a way to go is to pick shades of the same color. We had a bride who picked many different shades of purple from light to dark. It worked with the space and her vision. (See how pretty everything was?!?)

How will the colors work within your venues? If you have your colors in mind prior to picking a venue, bring along a napkin or tablecloth if you can. Remember certain colors will shine and work with a space, while others may fight the location. If you have one color that you love, but don't know what to combine it with, pick a color from the venue. If your location has an on-site coordinator, feel free to ask about what colors have been used in the space in the past, what works, what doesn't and consider the information. If you find the perfect neutral venue, you may need to bring in a bright color to bring life to the room.

When working with color, always have a sample with you. This way if you think you have found the perfect shade of peach, you will be able to pull out your sample and be 100% sure. If you check your color in different lighting, make sure you still love it. I bought a comfy chair that I thought was gray, and when I got it home, I found out it was green; light made all the difference. If you have a sample of a color, have one that you can leave with your planner, cake designer, and florist. Plus seen the photos below how well the flowers work with the colors of the dresses.

Think of how your colors will look on your wedding party. They don't have to be perfect but at the same time you do want the colors to work on them. (Thank you to Parsons Photography for lending a hand on some cute photographs showing off color) You can see how some girls look great in the purple and others look great in the yellow. Just like how the little bit of watermelon color worked really well with the black tuxes on the guys.

Lighting is a great way to change the color of a room. Working with a company that knows how to be effective with lights, knows all the safety concerns, and has a large selection is the way to go. It is smart to do a walk through with a lighting person to see how you can use a touch of color to make the room sparkle for you.

Use color effectively & constantly without over-doing it. Work with colors that make you feel great from day one, and you will be happier!

Watery Blue Birthday

2010-05-31T08:31:00.000-07:00

Going blue for my birthday boy wasn't difficult, since I'm personally a huge fan of the color. What was difficult was when my son first requested a zu zu pet party, but thankfully must have seen my eye twitching and changed his mind. I always attempt to give my boys an interesting and fun birthday without going over the top. Being that I'm a planner, that can be hard at times. I've learned from my oldest, though, that all they really wanna do is run around and have fun with their friends at this age. A water themed event was the way to go for a hot Sunday afternoon and our sweet 4 year old birthday boy was more interested in playing in the sprinklers, and of course chasing everyone down with the hose was a perk too.

We filled our yard with water loading docks for the guns, (way easier than having all the kids running inside to fill or attempting to use the hose), a few different sprinklers and of course a Gatorade fill up spot for the kids.
Needless to say I'm not a cake creator but I do my best. This year the request was for a marble cake since his older brother had enjoyed one the prior month. It must have been good since there wasn't a single piece left after 30 minutes.

I don't think I could have ordered up more perfect weather and the group of friends to spend the day with. The night ended with a roaring fire in the firepit, an adult water gun fight and of course a super tired yet happy birthday boy. Thank you to everyone who came and helped us celebrate!

Tip: Offer a special area for kids to grab their drinks & treats.

To display or not to display...

2010-05-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

...that is the question. There still seems to be a debate about whether a vendor should display their cards at a wedding or any other event. As nice as the fan of business cards may look at the edge of the bar or next to the cake, they shouldn't be there. When the client has purchased an item, be it an outstanding candy buffet or flowers, as amazing as they may be, someone's wedding isn't the correct place to display the company information. This day is about the couple, and while they have chosen vendors well, a good vendor won't feel the need to promote their work at someone else's gathering.

In the years of planning, I've seen many different vendors attempt creative ways to display their company name at a wedding. Some dj's will place a company banner behind the music set up, or sometimes even in front. A better suggestion would be to have a nice name tag with the company name and their name. Nothing ruins a first dance photo like a huge company banner behind them. I've seen cakes delivered with the cake company's logo on the cake board, and while this is a minor way of letting people know, it can be considered disrespectful unless cleared with the couple first. The best idea is to simply find the coordinator and give them a set of your cards. This way if a guest asks, the planner can share the business card, or if they decide to ask the bride and groom, they can direct them to the coordinator.

Sometimes, such as certain sponsored events and charity events, this is different of course. It would be advisable for any couple planning a more private event, such as a wedding, inform the vendors that if they would like, they may hand the coordinators a few extra cards just in case.

Vineyard Wedding

2010-05-24T11:53:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to one of our favorite couples, Jacqui and Eric. The vineyard setting was perfect for their eco-friendly wedding. Guests were able to enjoy a glass of wine before wandering out into the vineyard for a memorable ceremony. Surrounded by the joyous friends and family, they became husband and wife underneath the arch that Eric built himself.

We worked hard to eliminate as much wasteful products at this wedding as we could. We will be sharing how soon. Once again congratulations Mr & Mrs. Fettig, and thank you for letting ESTOccasions be part of your day.

estoPrints

2010-05-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to introduce you all to Jess Enos...she is one of our talented creators at estoPrints (our printed embellishment department of ESTOccasions). When it comes to invitations, you have to have a passion for it, and needless to say Jess has it. She has a creative outlook on creating something for everyone, even our clients on a budget. We've been working to add to our vintage, nature, modern and classic collections. If there is a piece of art you love, or a color combo but you can't locate the best match for your invitation, come see us. estoPrints will be at our CT Bridal Event & the Spring Bridal Event.

Weddings, Birthdays, Events and more, estoPrints will have you covered. Let us show you the best match for your event and your budget. Consider joining us on Facebook and checking out more photos on their too. prints@estoccasions.com

The Hunt for the Perfect Wedding Professional

2010-05-17T08:41:00.003-07:00

You’ve found the perfect venue. It gives you the space for a cocktail hour, breath taking reception room, and the perfect size dance floor. You find yourself looking through the venue’s pamphlet and you notice their preferred vendor list. It is important to ask if these vendors are preferred because of their talent, professionalism, and knowledge of the location or due to the fact that they have paid to be included on the list. If they have paid to be on the list, this doesn’t mean that they won’t provide you with excellent service, but it is important to be aware of why they are being recommended.

When working with one vendor, and recommendations are made for a photographer, cake designer, florist, or any other wedding professional, always ask what the relationship is between the vendors. Ask if they offer a discount, or a referral fee, because these are important to consider. (As a planner, we do not accept or offer referral fees, since we base our recommended vendors on their skills, passion, talent and professionalism. Plus, we do not feel that it would be honest to accept payment from a client and from a vendor. This is why it’s one of the policies of ESTOccasions.)

When meeting with a vendor, consider it an interview process for you both. It isn’t appropriate to arrive more than 10 minutes early or more than 10 minutes late for either party. Make sure you connect with your vendor; you should feel relaxed and informed at the same time. If you have a planner, and want them to be there, make sure your vendor knows they will be meeting with your planner also. Ask them to bring along a copy of a contract to view. Don’t be pressured into signing the contract, but do ask if you can have 24 hours to consider their offer and then sign. If you take longer to consider the offer, it may expire and the vendor may have already moved on to another client. If you love the offer, don’t let the vendor get away. Also, if you know from the start that their packages aren’t in your budget, don’t waste your own time or theirs. This is where working with a planner can help you find the right vendor for your vision and your budget, without wasting any time. It is also not appropriate to make numerous requests for information from a vendor if you do not retain them. Vendors are not free consultants; they are professionals that make their living providing services and advice.

There are plenty of great wedding professionals and with some effort, time and research you can find the perfect match for you.

Fight or Flight

2010-05-11T08:16:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, a bride friend of ours came to us with an issue. The best man will soon be related to her and he also happens to hate her. What to do? How do we keep this issue from ruining the wedding day? It is common to see old family issues and new ones arise during a planning process, and no matter who you are in the wedding it is important to remember that a wedding is no place to start an argument.

For our bride, we told her to first discuss this issue with her fiance, and explain why it is important to sit down with her soon-to-be brother-in-law and have a conversation. We don't recommend doing this the week prior to the wedding because it is important to put out the fire sooner rather than later. Always remain calm and even if you can't be friends, then just find a middle ground and some peace to whatever the issue may be. Maybe bringing some light to the issue will help resolve it.

Another bride has an issue, two of her four bridesmaids hate each other. The simple solution is once again to explain to each other how important each of them are. How important it is for them to get along, not cause extra stress and how you don't expect them to be best friends when all is said and done. If they can't learn to deal with each other, then maybe they shouldn't be in the wedding. Sometimes it is a hard choice to make but in the end it might be just what you needed to do for your special day. Being honest right from the start is the best thing.

No matter what issue you may have with someone in the wedding party, or a guest, a wedding is not the place to air dirty laundry. Consider the fact that you would never want someone to ruin an important day for you, so give that same respect to your friends and family. Always be the bigger person, don't fall for making a scene, and just smile and walk away if someone attempts to start a fight.

It can be difficult, but in the end you will be pleased with yourself.

Friendly Contract

2010-05-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

We've all been there: a close family friend, childhood neighbor, co-worker who also happens to have a talent (DJ, photography, baking cakes, creating invitations), and offers their services for your event. As an added bonus, it is budget friendly...so what do you do now??

Okay, if you aren't interested in their services and are looking for the right way to handle the situation, just let them know that you have already booked the service. Another way to handle it is if the person is attending the event, let them know that you would rather they enjoy the party instead of working it and thank them for such a kind offer.

Now, if you happen to be interested in the offer, here are some important things to remember.

~Will they give you the professional feeling you were looking for? If you are thinking that your friend can take photographs of your special day, will they know the tricks of the trade, lighting issues, and how to catch those spontaneous moments that can't be captured in a reshoot? Or, if you friend happens to know how to bundle flowers, will they be able to create the arrangements you have been dreaming about your entire life? These are honest questions you need to ask yourself.

~Can you honestly interact with a friend or co-worker about their service? As a perfect example, the bride went for her hair trial and hated it. HATED it, but didn't feel that she could be honest because this was a family friend who had been doing her hair forever and this was a gift. The last thing the bride wanted was to sound ungrateful, but she hated the hairdo.

~Ask for a contract! Yes I said it, ask for a contract between you and the friend who is providing the service. This is to protect both of you in the end, and shouldn't be looked upon as a bad thing. There is a reason why all of us professionals have contracts and would never enter into an agreement without one. Remember to state everything that is agreed upon, and that it is clear and easy to understand what trade will be happening. This way, if your friend ends up agreeing to create 65 wedding invitations for free and you add an additional 20 guests to your list, you clearly understand that you will need to pay for this.

These are just a few simple things to remember when planning an event and dealing with offers from your friends and family. There are times that with an important event, sticking to professionals and having your friends and family enjoy the event with you might be the way to go!

Talk about fun!

2010-04-28T14:15:00.000-07:00

My morning started with rushing around to get to Coventry on time for a carpool trip to the Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill Estate with Diane from Parsons Photography. Dresses were packed along with other goodies and boom we were off. Of course we had to do a quick stop over at Dunkin Donuts which is not my favorite, but I needed coffee and can't be picky in the middle of Coventry. I got the worlds largest bagel twist by the way too. I was thinking it would be smaller and not so dumb-bell shaped.

This place was amazing and everything that came together was just amazing, too. Parsons Photography was open to being creative, working with different angles, and making the place and everyone shine. Peter from After Hours DJ Entertainment might have thought he was coming by for a quick couple of photos, but was willing to help us finish up some looks we needed. The best part was that he brought music for us to listen to and I swear next time I'm bringing fans so when Diane yells "work with me" it will feel like we are on a fancy tv show. She honestly only yelled it because I asked her. Jessica was a blast; every time I was taking different shots just for fun she always had the best facial expressions. The rest of the time I think she was attempting to blind me with the flash set up. Victoria had put together a sweet fake cake for us. My favorite part besides all the times we were laughing was when she allowed me to toss it to the ground in front of the doors. The funniest part was that two service people walked out right when I let the cake fall and they had no clue what was going on. I almost wish we would have photographed their faces. Our model Nora Morales Lawrence completed the destroyed cake photo. Anyway, it was a great way to spend the day and I'm thankful to have been a part of it.

Boca Wedding

2010-04-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

Spent a week in Florida enjoying the town of Boca Raton and finishing up the final wedding details. During this time, I figured out I really am a New England type of girl. While I had a fantastic time, coming back to gray skies with spring blooming was wonderful.

Wedding day was one of the first really beautiful weekend days in a long time. When I arrived in the morning for set up, I saw the red warning flags on the beach confirming high winds. Now I found that high winds meant that a few lanterns lost their battles and were RIPPED off the hangers and that putting out table clothes wasn’t going to be an easy task. I also found out that my hair never had a chance to be anything but in a simple ponytail. The wind did solve one issue of concern, the temperature. 88 degrees is a bit warm for many but a sustained breeze kept everyone refreshed during this daytime wedding.

We were all able to enjoy an amazing ceremony and then a cocktail reception with a beautiful wedding cake, which tasted great too. That was a nice perk to the event. There were little children running around, laughing guests and of course the happy couple which made the wedding a success.

As always I love to see the happy couple really enjoy their day. There was no doubt about the love felt between the bride and groom and all the guests. Anyways I wish them countless years of happiness, and I’m thankful that we were able to be a part of their day.

Meet & Greet Season

2010-03-28T17:21:00.000-07:00

Meet & Greet

Season

Right at the end of March last year, on a cold rainy Sunday (wait wait..kinda sounds like this March) we hosted our first Meet & Greet. A chance for local companies to display business info to their own community around them. It was great, we had over 20 business at the Cassidy Hill Vineyard enjoying a Sunday afternoon mixing and mingling.

What a huge success it was, over 100 people joined us, sampling wine, food provided by Hop River Cafe and had a chance to purchase candles, set up photography sessions, meet local realtors, electricians, and many more.

I'm on the hunt for the perfect place again, maybe the vineyard, or a new location. Not sure, I just know that local businesses, the ones that keep our communities feeling like a community need some exposure.

First day of Spring

2010-03-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

We kicked off Spring with Firefly Night. Our cocktail charity event benefiting the Channel 3 Kids Camp. It was a nice chance for the community to come out and support a local charity benefiting Connecticut Children.

The UConn Alumni Center gave us the generous donation of the venue. We were thankful to have such a gorgeous, well run venue to enhance for our Firefly Night Theme. With a bit of nature inspired treatments from out own collection and the added items donated by MJ Decorations, we were able to really make the space come alive. The deep moss and midnight blue linens from Taylor Rental in Manchester gave a finishing touch on the tables. The colors worked well in the space and once Romantic Entertainment, added the fireflies to the ceiling, the space glowed. The amazing crew from Parson's Photography capture the event for us. As always Diane and Jessica were a blast to work with. We are looking forward to seeing all the photos.

Hop River Cafe created a feast and treated us all night with scrumptious passed appetizers. Heather and Lance's staff donated their time and a Saturday night to make sure everyone had enough to eat. Thank you for taking what you were given and making it shine.

Along with everything else that had been donated, the cakes in our Summer Night Theme Cake Challenge were a huge hit. It was difficult to pick one favorite. We allowed all the guests to vote, then added an extra point for the cake with the most drawing tickets, and the main players in our event voted again for their favorite. Thank you to Hallie Jackson from WFSB for making the announcement throughout the night and of course for her input on the best cake. Firefly Night winner was A Little Imagination Cakes, with her glowing fireflies, amazing details in her children, and attention to the small details. Now it wasn't a landslide, it was a close call and many of our attendees had a hard time picking between all of the cakes. Thank you to Edible Dreams, Once Upon a Cake, Chocolate Rose and ToriaDolce for just breathtaking creations. We thank Tim Ackert from Ackert Electric for being kind of enough to share the winning cake with all everyone. I personally think he just wanted to make sure he could fit the cake into his car but making it smaller.

Our drawing items were donated by so many different companies. They really opened their hearts and wallets to offer prizes people WANTED. The maple basket from Lamothe's Sugar House and necklace from Love Me Two Times were highly sought after. All of the prizes were, and it was a pleasure to see the winners leap for joy when they did win. One very lucky winner won $1000 worth of flowers from Jessica's Country Flowers. We were also blessed to have an arrangement created by Jessica, along with ones from Custom Floral, Windham Designs, Stylish Blooms and HGK Designs. They each gave an extra touch to an already great evening.

Taking Care of Tummies spent the day working at a different venue and then rushed back for our event to tend bar. Thank you for keeping our thirsty guests happy and for creating a few signature drinks for the evening.

Also thank you Amber from the Channel 3 Kids Camp and their crew.

What not to do on your wedding day!

2010-03-17T19:43:00.000-07:00

The day has arrived, your WEDDING day. A day to enjoy, treasure, all while making a lifetime of memories. Your day should be spent with your closest friends and family, filled with love and excitement and there are of course a few things you shouldn't be doing on your wedding day.

Your wedding day is NOT the day to:

~color your own hair, touch up your roots, or give yourself any self-created hair treatment. If you wish to style your hair or have your best friend do it, so be it, but make sure you have tried it out a few times prior to your wedding day. Make sure you pay attention to how long it takes to create and how long it will last, this way you know how much time you need to really allow yourself the day of your wedding.

~create your or your bridesmaids' bouquets! Your day shouldn't be spent creating, wrapping and making your own bouquet; it is just that simple. And even worse is if you plan on picking up your flowers the day of your wedding and then trying to fit this event in. As usual, the main issues end up being time and depending on an outside source to have the flowers you wish to have. I always recommend having your bouquets created by a professional. Even if you have taken a DIY course, or seen others put together their flowers, it isn't the same thing as having a professional take care of it. Remember there are things many florists do to preserve your flowers. This allows them to stay fresh, keep their color, perkiness and last throughout your day.

~a wedding cake. There is no reason you should be creating your own cake or cupcakes the day of your wedding. The average person may have seen dozens of cake challenges on the Food Network, but this does not mean you are up to creating a masterpiece. There is a level of skill in making sure the cake sits level and isn't sinking on one end. Creating cakes is an art form and while cupcakes may seem like an easy replacement for cake, decorating each one takes a great deal of time.

~self tanning products. Now they have come a long way from streaky orange messes but these should be used for at least the month prior to your wedding, mostly to make sure your skin looks natural. Plus remember once you have found your tanning color to try on your dress and see if you like how it looks.

~try make-up you have never used before the day of your wedding could result in an disaster. You want to for one look like yourself, just a brighter version of yourself. If you are using make up you have never worn before you may apply it wrong, you may have a reaction to it and break out, and last of all, you have no way of knowing how long it will last on your day. Have a few trials, make sure you know what you would like to look at. If you are having a professional or a friend do it for you, having a photograph of your trial will always help.

~wear your wedding shoes for the first time. You will be on your feet more than you will be sitting on your wedding day, so we recommend you try your shoes out before hand. Wear them to your bridal shower, and even to the rehearsal if you can. This gives your feet a trial run, and a chance to see how they work in different settings. If you are outside for your wedding, make sure your heel won't be sinking in. Some shoes are very slippery and it is always worth finding out before hand.

~try your undergarments with your dress. Make sure you can stand being in them, make sure they don't slip and move more than you would like them too. Plus make sure that when you are in your dress it is serving the purpose you purchased it for. If you can't breath after 5 minutes, it isn't going to work on your wedding day.

~take your own photographs. While our friends are amazing and they might rock the digital camera, it is worth it to hire a professional photographer for at least a few hours. If you can't afford to have them for the whole night, see if you can work out a deal with one. There will be certain photographs you will want to enlarge and keep forever; having someone taking a few formals will be a nice touch.

~forget to eat. Make sure you have breakfast, just something simple to eat that will get you through the day. Plus remember to have plenty of water and few simple snacks throughout the day. This way you aren't starving by dinner time, and your stomach will thank you.

There will always be the people who want to do everything themselves and that is great but remember, there are plenty of professionals out there who will work within your budget, and your vision. With their guidance you may end up with more than you thought you could have.

Wedwork (Networking night for special event & wedding professionals)

2010-03-02T15:19:00.000-08:00

Since somehow we flew into March, I thought I better touch base about our first WedWork event before we are in the full swing of spring. Two weeks ago at the UConn Alumni Center on cool February Friday night close to 100 event & wedding professionals came together to mix and mingle. It was a nice turn out for the first time holding such an event. Julie from the UConn Alumni Center really made a point to reach out to as many in the field as she could. Since we both felt that this event was a success, we will be working on another one a few months from now. Plus it was nice to show off the space for Firefly Night and a Love Me Two Times Fashion Show event during the Alumni Center's Open House weekend (March 12th for the fashion show and open house 12th-14th) and of course our 4th annual CT Bridal Event.

We were really thankful for Hop River Cafe and Taking Care of Tummies for providing amazing finger foods. Plus the wonderful staff from University Catering tended the bar and even provided some treats for also. For myself one of the best things about this event was being able to meet vendors in real life. Many of them I have had the pleasure of speaking with on Facebook and in emails. Now I had a chance to shake hands and really take a moment to chat. It was a blast to meet two of the three ladies from Parson Photography. They had agreed to be our official photographers and somewhere in the middle of the event, they did go on a shoe photographing craze, all thanks to Sara from Taylor Rental in Manchester. Her stylish red shoes were a huge hit. I added in my boots since I loved the photo.

No ones shoes were safe. Needless to say Parson Photography was a huge hit at the event and if you would like to see more of their work, make sure to check out their website.

The Who, What, Where, When, Why & How of Budgets

2010-02-28T15:33:00.000-08:00

When planning any type of event, it is important to be honest about the budget.

Who~Who is supplying the budget funds?
What~What is a realistic budget?

Where~Where should I be spending the budget?

When~When is a good time to put down a deposit?

Why~Why do need a budget?

How~How can I keep my budget under control?

We often ask who will be paying for the budget or at least the majority of it because while the trend has been for couples to start to pay for their wedding, families do assist. When we know who is taking care of certain parts of the budget, we make sure the correct people are involved.

What is a realistic budget can be difficult mostly because couples are uncertain how much it costs for all the aspects of a larger scale event. Cost can also depend on the region, popularity of venue, vendors, the type of food and even the trends the couple is interested in.

Where to spend the budget? Well, you will be spending most of it on the food, drinks, and depending on your location, there may be venue fees. Couples should spend their dollars in places that will give them the most for their funds.

When should deposits be paid? This can be hard. Just remember that until a vendor has a signed contract and deposit they will be attempting to fill your wedding date. We always recommend that you set up a few vendor appointments for the same day or weekend, and then take the time to compare and pick the one that will work for you. Make sure you understand their contracts and deposit rules before you move forward but don't waste months trying to pick a vendor because you will miss out.

Why do we need a budget? When you are planning a large scale event having a budget will help you stay on track. It is also meant as a guideline for yourself, because you shouldn't be spending money you don't have on your event, since it can cause extra stress for yourself. With a budget, a planner can figure out the best way distribute the funds for the correct vendors.

How can we get the maximum out of our budget? In our line of work, we always recommend working with a planner. Since we are aware of different vendor deals, cost effective designs, and also save you time, a planner can help you remain within budget. It is cost effective for yourself not be running around meeting with vendors who may not be within your budget or don't work with the style you are going for. With a planner we can recommend the right match for you. Remember that you don't have to hire a wedding planner for full-service planning; opt for a wedding day service and a consultation to make sure you are on the right track if you are interested in doing-it-yourself.

ESTOccasions is here to offer that top notch service at a reasonable rate. We never accept commissions from any vendor or venue, and we only recommend vendors that work with your vision and budget. As an added bonus we offer many discounted rentals to our clients. We work to save our couples as much as they spend on us.

Just remember to sit down and really discuss an event budget, as you will save yourself stress and the hassle of meeting with venues and vendors that won't work within your budget. There really are vendors for every budget range and working with a planner can help you find the best for your money.

Firefly Night Cake Challengers

2010-02-26T09:43:00.000-08:00

We are proud to bring Firefly Night together for the Channel 3 Kids Camp, with all proceeds benefiting the camp. We will be holding a Cake Challenge, and the attending public gets to vote for their favorite. Plus a few lucky winners get to bring the cakes home, if they wish. Make sure you come out to support your favorite bakers and purchase your tickets, regular and VIP at www.channel3kidscamp.org

Once Upon A Cake (http://www.onceuponcake.com/) based in Stafford Springs can create any cake from modern, classic, elegant and over the top. Every cake has a personality of it's own, no two are the same. It can tell a story, be a milestone, even capture a moment. Weather it's the centerpiece of the event or a subtle treat at the end, the possibilities are endless. Amy, has a great passion and love for creating amazing cakes.

A Little Imagination Cakes (www.alittleimaginationcakes.com) began with Hope Wright-Martell and, you guessed it...a little imagination. A part-time caker for years, Hope eventually found herself dedicating more and more of her time to her confectionary creations. As orders filled the calendar and flour covered more of her wardrobe, it was clear that the kitchen was calling her, so she traded in the 9-5 office grind for her apron full-time. Deftly manipulating fondant to her will ever since, Hope is now one of the premier cake sculptors in the area. All of our handcrafted cakes are made to order in Middletown, Connecticut. Each cake is skillfully decorated with Fondant and Gum Paste, as well as Buttercream and other soft icings.

ToriaDolce (www.toriadolce.com) ToriaDolce goal is to provide you with the cake you have always imagined. All of our products are freshly made to order using only the finest ingredients and our products are never frozen. Special orders are welcomed and encouraged. Victoria is ready to create a masterpiece.

Edible Dreams (www.edibledreamscakes.com) At Edible Dreams, we can make your dreams edible! We specialize in wedding cakes, birthday cakes, and civil union cakes. Our favorite cakes to bake are by far, the most creative! If you think of it, we will make it, and that's the best part of our business. As a customer, you will have the option to choose every flavor under the moon for your cake and filling. We have fun making you any cake for any occasion so, if your needs seem too simple or too difficult for us, call us! We welcome your challenge!

TLC Creations Theme Cakes for Every Occasions With their tender loving care, TLC Creations can create any type of cake. They are looking forward to being part of the Firefly Night and showing off their talent.

Chocolate-Rose Bake Shop (www.chocolate-rose.com) For cakes that taste as good as they look, your only real choice is The Chocolate Rose. We can match any color and any theme. The more difficult, the better we like it. From casual to formal and from flowers and birds to cowboys and corals, you pick the feel that makes your day special. We'll design a cake to match.

Remember all cakes will be at least 2 feet tall, 80% edible and need to fit into the summer night theme! Make sure you come out to support your favorite baker and have a great night making a difference in the life of kids. Buy your tickets today.

Bridal Event Comments & Pointers

2010-02-25T09:26:00.000-08:00

This will be our 4th year hosting the CT Bridal Event and every year we ask for couple feedback. I randomly send out emails to our couples who attended, asking them the likes, dislikes and comments about our event. I've figured this was a great way to see what is working and what isn't.

Comments we received about the vendors displays and vendors themselves:

"A smile goes a long way, that is all I have to say. If you aren't willing to seem to be happy to be there, I'm not going to bother."

"I loved seeing photos of the work, or even better a slide show of their work."

"I like an over the top table, helps me see what the vendor could really do."

"A freebie and business card is nice but wow me with your table"

"I liked being able to sample the product, or when it came to the make up artists I was glad I could try on different colors that might work for me."

"Your work should speak for itself, don't tell me how great you are. That's just weird."

"I like to sample more than one cake flavor, and I love being able to see all of the flavors I could do"

"Being able really speak with the photographer made a difference for me. I loved the photos and then I fell in love with the vendor that would be part of my day."

"What do I get for your prices, is this more or less than most vendors"

"The custom one of a kind work was awesome, I liked knowing that you could create something just for me!"

"I found my wedding dress and it was the best feeling in the world. I saved a ton of money and now I'm putting it into flowers"

"Some displays were just confusing and overdone in a bad way. I don't want to spend 20 minutes figuring out your product."

"Just because I'm the bride doesn't mean you shouldn't introduce yourself to my bridesmaids. The ones that took a moment to say hello to us all just made me feel better about them."

"Wish more vendors had a place to sign up for a meeting or a newsletter. Sure winning a free prize would be nice but I want to be able to set up appointment too."

"Bad mouthing other vendors was a huge turn off. Plus I had one vendor come to another vendors table and invite me to theirs. This was just wrong to me."

"Been to big expos and small ones, loved the mix of companies and the choices."

"I liked checking out the company websites before I came to the event"

"The science project look has to go. I found that if you aren't creative enough in displaying your items, I will find a vendor that can."

"Loving the chance to walk around and then come back around and really connect with the ones that impressed me."

"I want to buy my tickets online"

"I spent two hours at the event, found accessories for my gown, my invites, and picked two other vendors. Great great time. My mom and I had a blast."

"Thank god for the welcome bag, I think we could have used a bigger bag though."

"There were so many nice people to speak with and one of the better shows I've been too."

Couples did ask to be able to see company reviews and I'm thinking it would be cool to check them out at the Wedding Reports table this year. Just an idea but I will see what Chris thinks about the idea.

One of the surprising comments I saw was how couples really pay attention to how neatly everything is put together. They are looking for professionalism in the items they hand out, like misspelling words demonstrates that you don't pay attention to small details. If you can't pay attention to that, can you handle the small details of a wedding?!? They don't want to see someone's craft project, they are looking for the professional polished look.

Here are a few questions we have always recommended you ask your wedding professionals:

~How long have you been in business?
~Do you do this full time?
~If you get sick, who takes care of your services?
~How large of an event can you honestly handle?
~Do you work from home, a shop or a different location?

As the producer of the CT Bridal Event, it has been important to give couples choices without over loading them and it seems to work. We had many state that they loved the chance to compare and speak with each vendor. It is important to take the time at the event to speak with the couples. If there is a huge rush of couples, invite them to come back and have a one on one meeting with you in 20 minutes.

This year we will be offering online ticket sales, it will be a special deal for couples who purchase early. I'm looking into larger welcome bags. Each year I really make a point to learn and grow with each Bridal event. The event in my mind is never perfect, and sadly I can't please every single couple, or every single vendor but I do strive to create an amazing event for our CT couples. This event came together due to two friends sitting around thinking about how we could expand our business, and how we could create something useful for the CT couples around us and the large group of smaller businesses. Without the smaller business choices, every event would be almost the same. Having choice is so important to my line of work, and I love being able to really showcase off so many different companies.

We went from being a bridal open house to a large scale stress free Bridal Event. Save the Date for November 7th at the UConn Alumni Center from 12pm to 4pm. www.ctbridalevent.com

One of our services: Rentals

2010-02-23T08:05:00.000-08:00

As a full-service event and design company, we are able to offer a large selection of rentals. I realize I need to set up a day and do a full phone shoot of all of our rentals, and create a rental book for everyone. Certain rentals, we just drop off or have the client pick and go. Items like our candy buffet items, vases, candle holders, card boxes and more. We are always willing to set them up for our clients too but there are times where pick up and go just works better.

Other rentals such as a few of our arches, canopies and large scale rentals, we have to set them up. Why you may ask, well because we understand how to make them sturdy in any setting, adjust the height when needed and we have the correct tools for set up are just a few of the reasons. You will never find my staff or myself setting up an outdoor tent for 150 people, why, because we just don't have the skills to do this. Taylor Rental in Manchester is the place to go for such items. Plus for all of your china, silverware and linen needs they are the place to go. Let Sarah know we sent you!

This is a top view of our metal one of a kind circular canopy, can be decorated in many different ways

We understand the time needed to set up certain rentals, this is another reason why some of ours aren't just drop and go! In the end it is still our company name, our quality of goods that are being used and we take pride in what we do. As planners we have a total understanding of what needs to go into the event and the time needed to make sure everything is set up correctly. If you are looking for something special, something a bit different then let us know. You never know what we may have in stock and it is worth asking.

Over the years we continue to have our rental section grow. Now we even offer cake stands and custom created cake stands for our clients. Just like we offer custom card boxes for the couples to keep. All less than the typical white boxes you find at all the craft stores.

WedWork

2010-02-17T15:59:00.000-08:00

Wedwork!!!

A night of networking for all special events & wedding professionals. As a company that works in the corporate part and event part of planning, I've been looking to pull together a networking night. Just over a month or so ago, I was sitting enjoying a great lunch with Julie from the UConn Alumni Center and Wedwork was born. At the moment we have over 90 professionals who have RSVP'ed that they will be attending the free event. There are a few professionals who have asked to pay the fee to display a few items ( a simple $20), and I'm interested in seeing what they will be showing. There will be a cash bar provided by the University Catering and awesome treats from Hop River Cafe and Taking Care of Tummies. Parson Photography is our professional photographers for the evening and all of the linens are provided by Taylor Rental in Manchester.

Needless to say but I'm excited. Excited to another great event be pulled together. While I love everything about my work, I do enjoy the corporate events we are able to do. It is a bit of a different type of event but always fun. Time to pull together all of my business cards.

Monograms

2010-02-15T17:25:00.000-08:00

I'm in love with these monograms. It adds a special touch to any event. The nice thing is these are just samples, estoPrints can create any type of monogram, with colors and more. Contact us for you free consultation and remember that you don't have to be an ESTOccasions client to use our estoPrints part.

Creative Custom Printed Embellishments

2010-02-15T06:38:00.000-08:00

estoPrints

I have those moments when I wish I would have learned graphic design. I see the idea in my mind, I can sort of sketch it or at least explain it but I can't create in in the programs I have. Over the years I've learned one design program to another,created menu cards, escort cards, website and a great deal of promotional items for my company, the bridal event and others. I've always felt limited in one way or another. I wanted to be able to offer another creative touch to ESTOccasions, so we welcome Courtney to our family. estoPrints is our new department and Courtney is a talented graphic designer with a love of creating the perfect invitations. She is also able to create so much more and having someone on our staff who can take care of these printed needed is just wonderful.

We will have a price list up shortly, along with more online samples for you to preview. Now remember you don't have to be an ESTOccasions planning client but we do offer you a special discount.

Courtney can really create a custom look for you, a monogram (which we can turn into a gobo light for your wedding dance floor), or take an idea and expand on it for you. We have budget friendly, vintage, modern, natural, and of course traditional selections for you. Set up your free consultation!

These were our special Holiday tags. Very cute and had a bit of sparkle with them.

Needless to say we are just excited here and can't wait to start creating for you.

estoPrints is open!!!

Winner of 2010 Bride's Choice from Wedding Wire

2010-02-10T15:19:00.000-08:00

It is right, ESTOccasions won the 2010 Bride's Choice Award from Weddingwire. What does this mean?? Well I'm going to let Weddingwire tell you:

"The WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards ™ recognizes the top local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness, and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, the Bride's Choice Awards are determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds. This year's winners represent the top five percent of WeddingWire's vendor community, which consists of over 100,000 local wedding professionals nationwide"

Make sure you check out our reviews on weddingwire.

"something new" (a little bridal humor)

2010-02-10T10:20:00.000-08:00

We have been working on "something new" for everyone. As a full-service event & wedding planning company, we are adding something to our design aspect of our services. Stay tuned to learn more.