Ashley Troyer Events

What to wear to a wedding

2010-07-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

So I have been shopping online for something that is cute to wear to my cousin's wedding. Yes I do get to attend weddings and just be a guest occasionally. :) I have been having a hard time finding a dress that isn't too poofy, isn't too shiny, doesn't make my arms look big and definitely isn't too short. Here are a few places that I found that I want something from each...

H&M
Forever 21
Charlotte Russe
Target

Ashley Troyer Events + Goshen, Indiana Businesses Give Away A Wedding!

2010-04-25T06:08:00.000-04:00

Finally! We have been waiting to blog this event for soooo long! We have partnered with Downtown Goshen Inc. + Goshen First Fridays to bring Downtown Goshen Throws A Wedding! It started as a simple idea that I would like to have someone have their wedding somewhere “different” – I mentioned an alley or a rooftop, you know somewhere kind of crazy??? Well, after talking with the director from Goshen First Fridays, Grace Hunsberger, we hatched a plan to give a wedding away to a deserving couple and create an event that would be way out of the ordinary! With the help of several gracious businesses we are able to give Heather Gaut + Brent Zebell a wedding on June 4th, 2010!!

Details:
CEREMONY:: The ceremony will take place in an alley beside The Wellness Studio on Main Street during Goshen’s First Fridays, we will be providing the decor and bridal party floral. Jules Boutique will be dressing the girls, Joselena’s will be dressing Heather and Snyder’s Men’s Shop will be getting the groom and groomsmen looking handsome! Cyd Gallery has provided engagement photos and will capture the whole day/evening. Salon J will provide hair and makeup.

RECEPTION:: The party will take place on Washington Street with several vendors providing food and drink for cocktail reception. Gretchen’s Revenge will be playing the ceremony music and we are so excited that Menno Travel Service will be giving Heather and Brent a free honeymoon that is a COMPLETE secret until the night of the wedding!

We can’t wait to complete the event and share all of our hard work with you but we just had to share the news! This definitely could not be possible with out the following amazing Goshen businesses + vendor support!

Accent Framing & Gifts – Bosco’s Place – Constant Spring – Cyd Gallery – Joselena’s – Jule’s Boutique – Kellie Jae’s Cafe + Maple Leaf Farms – Maple City Market – Mattern’s Butcher Shop – Menno Travel Service/American Express – Olympia Candy Kitchen – Salon J – Shutterhug’s – Snyder’s Men’s Shop – South Side Soda Shop – The Cake Shoppe – The Electric Brew – The News Printing Company – The Nut Shoppe – The Wellness Studio – Wedding Day Magazine – Woldruff’s Foot Wear & Apparel

It has been such a pleasure getting to know Heather and Brent and seeing how these two fit together! We simply can not wait to witness these two share their love to their families and we’re so happy we could be apart of making this day happen for them!

I’m still wondering if they’ll let me tag along with them to their Honeymoon destination??? You know, since it’s going to be FABULOUS!!

Ashley Troyer Events - Goshen, Indiana Wedding Planner South Bend, Indiana Wedding Planner Ft. Wayne, Indiana Wedding Planner

It's Official. Blog has moved.

2009-11-13T12:43:00.000-05:00

The new blog can be found on our home page. Also for those of you who have us in your blog rolls... here is the new feed for that: feed://ashleytroyerevents.com/feed/ - if you have any problems switching please contact us !

Looking For Exact Colors?

2009-09-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

So I was looking through my blog roll and found a post on Pantone wedding colors over at Color Me Inspired {love them!} from yesterday that really had me giddy! So I really wanted to touch on this subject for our local brides NOW before any more wedding paraphernalia purchasing happens! So lets begin...what is Pantone you ask? Great question! It is a renown authority on color in the graphic design world that you use to find exact colors to use for design, publishing + printing purposes. I recently had a chance to find out first hand what Pantone colors were as I chose the colors for my new logo. My graphic designer and I poured over Pantone swatches trying to find that perfect color. So I am familiar on how they work with the graphic design + printing world. Now... adding that into weddings?! That's something that can make me happy! So I went over to the Dessy site to check out exactly what this Pantone collaberation was.

Can I get woot woot?!!! This idea/site is absolutely amazing and something design teams could have only dreamed of! You purchase the swatch cards that are a full 8.5x11" for about $10. This swatch is split up into 14 different cards that you can use for everything! Hand one to your mom so that if she is shopping and finds something perfect, she has your color swatch! Give one to your cake designer so the color is perfect on your cake, give one to your design team so that they can make sure everything they purchase is correct! The possibilities go on and on!

I must say I am so happy with this site! They offer so much, it's incredible! They partnered with Stila to offer a fantastic bridesmaid's gift that is valued around $65 for $29! With this offer you get their quilted clutch which comes in 60 Pantone colors, a matching head wrap, lipstick & lipgloss that come in 4 different colors. PERFECTION! Need a gift for the flower girl? Well... they have matching flower girl doll dresses! WHAT?! Yes! Yes! Yes! You can give your flower girl the exact replica of her dress for her doll! How cute is that?!

So besides offering wedding, bridesmaid + flower girl dresses and accessories, they offer Tuxes as well! No more guessing on coordinating your wedding party! If you thought it couldn't get any better... it does! YOU CAN DESIGN INSPIRATION BOARDS! My favorite! What better way to convey your ideas to your wedding professionals? Having an inspiration board will not only allow them to see what's in your head, but possibly replicate ideas that you have found AND get the colors exactly! Whoah... I think I am about to faint! This way too much for me to handle!

So go over to the Dessy Pantone site, sign up for an account and start working on this! Because we are so impressed, this our new arsenal in Ashley Troyer Events planning + design process. We'll be working this into our design meetings with new brides!

So now that we found something to make our day, our week and possibly our year... we hope you have a fabulous time! :)

{images via Dessy Group }

We're Moving!

2009-09-16T00:30:00.003-04:00

We're creating a new site that no longer requires us to host our blog on Blogger. So within the next day or so, we will have a new blog-site which will be accessible through our website - we apologize for the change but we promise it will make EVERYTHING better! :) We'll update this post with a link to subscribe to the new site to make the transition easier.

Thanks for your patience during this change!

What Is An RSVP Service?

2009-09-11T08:00:00.001-04:00

A RSVP Service* is a service that someone like Ashley Troyer Events provides to keep track and update all of the RSVP's you have received from your invitations. Included in our service is the option to email + telephone your unresponsive guests to insure an accurate count of all guests. Knowing you have a deadline to meet to make sure all head-counts are turned in to each required vendor, the option to email + telephone is a great way to insure accuracy. We also feature an online database that allows you to log in and add changes as well as see the progression.

Our brides enjoy this service because it gives them peace of mind knowing that a professional is handling and organizing the responses as well as being able to still view and edit information. It's just one more added service that will alleviate the stress and keep you organized!

{Picture via )
*{This service is included in all of our planning packages}

Canning Jars

2009-09-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

At a recent wedding we were faced with budgeting issues that led us to be quite creative in the design of the event. So instead of renting or purchasing vases, we used canning jars to display flowers, hold silverware on the tables + as a path to light the way to the event. In fact, I raided my mother in laws cellar to retrieve all of our canning supplies! Whenever we have an issue with budget, we always try to find something that can be borrowed or someone already has. In this particular setting, it was absolutely beautiful!

What common items have you borrowed that added a fantastic design element to your wedding/event?

Wedding Shoes

2009-09-04T08:00:00.001-04:00

When shopping for your wedding attire, make sure you include this hot trend to your accessories! Find a pair of shoes in your colors and add a coordinating bag. Let me add a little bit of caution on being aware of what you put on your feet. Make sure it's a solid color, not a busy pattern. Having something so busy will take away from the beauty of your dress, the solid color will add just enough color to be beautiful. I love color, so any way color comes into play... I'm all for it! I also love being able to reuse items, especially shoes. There are not many outfits you can put white shoes on with and still look put together. So having a pair of shoes that you can wear after your wedding is the better deal! This just makes me want to go shoe shopping!!!

{Pictures via Green, Purple, Yellow, Blue , Pink }

Linens... Dress Your Event!

2009-09-02T07:30:00.002-04:00

Linens really are a big part of your overall design. Think about it this way... would you wear the dress that the dress shop had as a standard that is very plain and maybe not the most comfortable fabric, in fact maybe it's quite drab looking? Why would you want your tables to look and feel that way as well? I have found over time, the better the look of the linens, the less money you will need to spend in tablescape decor. Most venues that offer linens within their rental agreement are going with a company that does not have the highest quality in linens. Going with a specialty linens can help you find just the right touch. We can help you find the right linen company.

{Photo via BBJ Linen via David Caruso}

3 Ways to Kill Your Wedding Budget!

2009-08-31T07:30:00.003-04:00

1. Do Not Set A Budget To Begin With. Not having an idea on what you are going to spend will by far be the #1 to make sure you spend above and beyond what you can afford. Sit down with all of the parties that are going to be investing in your big day and create the budget. At least know what you can spend. Hiring someone like Ashley Troyer Events with a service of budget creation + management will help you pinpoint where your dollars should be spent. Knowing your budget also gives you more a leverage on striking deals. If you can say "I have XXX money in my budget for this service", the vendor may be willing to help you. So know your budget!

2. Never shop around for better deals. Not checking with other vendors in the area for their pricing will definitely kill your budget! Find at least 3 vendors that you are interested in and meet with them. Find out if they will work well with you and do not be afraid to ask for pricing up front. If they are confident in their business then they should be comfortable telling you their pricing structure up front. But also realize that one package may include something the "same" package in another like vendor's package doesn't. Try to compare apples to apples. If you do not need something in their package. Ask for it to be taken out and get a reduction in price.

3. Be afraid to ask for a discount or choose the least expensive option. If you do not ask, you will not recieve! The worst thing you can be told is no. If you go about it in a very mature and nice way your response should be the same. If they can not remove services or offer a discount, go with the least expensive option if you really want to use their service or product.

Cool Candy Anyone? My M&M's!

2009-08-28T07:30:00.001-04:00

Okay... so to be completely honest, I am obsessed with My M&M's for weddings, parties, corporate events or just about anything that you can use them for! LOVE THEM!! It's such a unique way to customize + personalize your event with the famous little chocolate candy! With over 22 customizable colors, the ability to put your personalized message or logo + personalized packaging! Check out this link to get discounts.

Have you found any cool customizable candies?

What's Your Bra Size?

2009-08-26T07:30:00.006-04:00

No... I don't really want to know your bra size, that's a little personal! :) But on a serious note... many of you may have heard that anywhere from 80-90% of women have no clue what their actual bra size is! So that means almost all of you are walking around with an uncomfortable situation under those shirts! Eek! So, I have included the way that the Victoria's Secret ladies measure you. It's fast simple, you just need to know a little addition and subtraction to figure it out. Hopefully this will help all of the brides out there find a little more comfort on your wedding day!

Step One: Band Size: Wear a non-padded bra and use a soft tape measure. Hold the tape measure around your back at band level. Then bring it to the front, just above your bust. The resulting number is your band size. Hint: If the number is odd, round down to the closest even number.

Step Two: Bust Measurement: Measure completely around the fullest part of your bust (at nipple level). This is your bust measurement. If this measurement falls on the 1/2 inch, round up.

Step Three: Cup Size: Subtract the band size (step 1) from the bust measurement (step 2). This number equates to the letter of your cup. Bust Measurement - Band Size = Cup Size. For Example : If your bust measurement is 36" and your band size is 34, you wear a B cup. Hint: Every body is different and results may vary slightly.

{Pictures + Bra Sizing via Victoria's Secret}

Bump It!

2009-08-24T07:30:00.004-04:00

So I recently purchased this $9.99 treasure at CVS. I was standing in line and saw them sitting on the shelf, I had heard great things about them from a June bride. She had used them and her hair looked fantastic! Truth be told... I could always use a little volume in the back. Ha! So I rushed home to volumize my do. I absolutely loved them! It took just a little teasing and A LOT of hairspray but the end result was so chic I couldn't stop looking in the mirror! I was super amazed by how quick it went and the fact that I had actually accomplished this look all by myself. I would spend almost an hour trying to get my hair to do that cute little bump. So now I am using them on everyone that comes near my bathroom just because I like to see what it looks like on them! :)What a great gift for all of the girls in your bridal party. Don't forget yours either!!!!

{Picture of Taylor Martin, our intern}

Recycle! Recycle!

2009-08-22T09:16:00.004-04:00

So I found the cutest green idea at an expo I attended in Chicago for planners this past Thursday. I so wish I had taken a picture! So just imagine with me! The designer used white shredded recycled paper with spots of colored shredded paper on top of a table and placed a glass top on the paper. It was very cute and could be very budget friendly! Add some candles and a small center piece and voila!

What budget friendly design ideas have you seen lately?

Organize Your Wedding

2009-07-30T10:27:00.006-04:00

After pouring over pictures and researching vendors + venues, you probably have A LOT of paperwork! The best thing you can do for yourself is organize it! Get a 3 ring 1 1/2" binder with some sleeve protectors and start filing away! It's a simple & inexpensive way to keep all of your materials in one place. Also grab up some of those handy tabs that you can put in front of the different documents. I prefer the kind that you can write on.

If you prefer the paperless way... buy a flash drive and create files according to what you would like to save. I ALWAYS have a design idea folder available when I am doing internet research. When meeting with your vendors you can have them pop the flash drive into their computer and see all of your creative ideas! You can also scan all of those contracts + pricing information and place them on your flash drive as well.

Staying organized is the best way to keep your sanity!

{picture via WeddingAccessories.net}

The Century Bride - Bridal Event

2009-07-30T10:05:00.003-04:00

The Century Bride is coming to South Bend - October 4th - 12p-4p at the Century Center! The first 250 brides + grooms to register will receive VIP status on the red carpet! This bridal show is different than any other that has been in this area! Starting Saturday, August 1st brides + grooms can log on to Century Bride's website and pre-register as well as schedule one on one time with different vendors. See... Hear...Taste...Experience!

We're super excited to be apart of this show! Come visit us at Booth 5!

{Picture/Logo via Century Bride}

Wedding Day Survival

2009-07-25T20:21:00.003-04:00

On a consistent basis I am asked if we provide an emergency kit to our brides... absolutely! So we thought since we have the experience of what you might need on your wedding, we'd give you a list of items we keep in our bag!

*toothpaste

*toothbrush

*deodorant

*tissues

*hairspray

*static remover

*band-Aids

*mints

*clear nail polish

*white nail polish

*bobby pins

*safety pins

*scissors

*eyeliner

*mascara

*black socks (enough for all the groomsmen)

*panty hose

*blemish cream (we like the new clearasil pimple blocker pen)

*corsage pins

*shoe polish

*double-sided hem tape

*stain remover

*pain relievers

*sewing kit

*super glue

*brush

*comb

*white chalk (absolutely the #1 used item for my brides to cover stains in a white dress!)

*baby powder

*tampons

*pads

*antacid

*extra earring backs

*dental floss

*lotion

Hopefully there will not be any emergencies in your wedding... but it's better to be safe than sorry!

Shed Pounds Before The Big Day!

2009-07-01T14:16:00.004-04:00

I really do not advise losing a lot of weight right before your wedding, unless it's necessary. You should start some kind of regiment before you buy your dress. Simply guessing when purchasing a dress in a smaller size is not the safest way. So this is more geared towards maybe a bride that has gained 5-10 pounds and needs to shed it fast.

So the first thing is obvious - dump the junk! No more candy! Replace that with high protein snacks like a few nuts or protein bars. I know it does not sound yummy - but we're desperate right?!

Next thing, DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT drink your calories! Pop and other high calorie drinks only make weight gain worse!

EAT AND EAT SOME MORE! Here's the deal... I figured this out recently when I dropped a staggering 20 pounds since March. I had a baby almost 2 years ago and still had baby fat from not exercising and eating out because of a busy schedule. My secret was and is this... I only eat until the hunger pain goes away. I don't stuff myself, I do not overindulge. I simply eat anytime I am hungry. I may eat about the same portions as my 2 year old... but I in turn, shrank my stomache so I have no desire to over eat. I simply can not do it or I feel sick.

TRY TO EXCERCISE! I know sometimes joining a gym can be difficult and a little demanding. Here's something I tried. I park far away at Target, at the Mall, when I meet clients, any where I go. I try to walk. It may not be great excersize but at least it's something!

Also one other thing. I didn't obsessively weigh myself either. I could just tell by how my jeans were no longer fitting me, the comments other people made. Then after a few weeks I would weigh myself at my mom's. I do not keep a scale.

If you would like to shape something like your back or arms, do high reps with weights of 5 lbs & 10 lbs. Feel the burn!!!! :)

Good luck!

Easy Wedding Checklist

2009-06-29T17:33:00.003-04:00

10-12 Months Before Your Wedding {or immediately after engagement if there is a shorter courtship}

Call everyone to tell them the good news!
Start thinking of your colors, theme, etc. How do you envision your wedding? Give your wedding a name. "Classy Romantic"
Set a budget and find out who is paying for what.
Hire Ashley Troyer Events!!!!
Select your venues.
Select date & time. Make sure you have a couple of back up dates just in case the place you really want is not available.
Book your officiant
Start a preliminary Guest List
Choose your attendants, including those that will help with any special readings or songs.
Meet with the major vendors {photorapher, videographer, caterer, floral designer} and get references or be referred by someone that has used them!

8 to 10 Months

Shop for your dress and order. Don't forget the veil, gloves, shoes & jewelry. Remember, simple is always pretty.
Sign your contracts with vendors.
Start planning your honeymoon. Call a local travel agent to begin looking through destination books.
Start thinking about bridesmaid dresses.
Book your reception entertainment.
Book Transporation.

4 to 7 Months

Let out of town guests that you are on a final guest list know your final date and time. Sending Save-The-Date cards is a great way to do this.
Book Cake Designer
Purchase wedding favors
Plan Rehearsal Dinnner.
Reserve Rental Equipment
Arrange Transportation
Register for Gifts
Purchase Wedding Rings
Purchase Gifts for Attendants
Purchase Gifts for Eachother
If you'll need a going away outfit, purchase that.
Block off hotel rooms for guests in a couple different price ranges
Book your hotel for the night of the wedding.
Select attire for groom and groomsmen
Select and order attire for bridesmaids - be careful with ordering too soon!

2 to 3 Months

Start skin care regiment and purchase beauty products.
Make final arrangements with vendors. Menus, must take pictures, music, rehearsal & ceremony. Don't leave this to the last minute.
Book hair salon or spa & schedule a trial run.
Book makeup artist.
Send announcements to local newspapers.
Complete name change documents
Attend bridal showers
Mail invitations

1 Month

Apply for marriage license
Have final fitting
Meet with attendants to make sure everything is going well with their part.
Confirm times with vendors.
Get Program completed.
Create Guest Hospitality bags for out of town guests.
Change your address, you can schedule this to happen right after the wedding.
Get confirmations from Guests that have not sent an RSVP
Set up seating arrangements

1 to 2 Weeks

Give final guest counts to those who need it. {Usually 10 days}
Break in shoes
Pick up your dress, make sure you try it on one last time before you leave the bridal shop!
Attend Bachelorette/Bachelor Party
Assign tasks to those who are helping with your wedding

Day Before

Schedule a spa day or even just a massage! It will help with the stress!
Pick up last minute items
Attend Rehearsal & Dinner - Don't forget to give your wedding party their gifts
Confirm Transportation

Day Of

Have fun and enjoy EVERY minute!

Trendy ideas...

2009-06-26T08:00:00.001-04:00

{from heidi & ty's wedding 6/5/09}

I am a big fan of "do what you want" on your wedding day and I am loving that brides today are taking that approach rather than the traditional 2 colors, all white, twin bridesmaids, tulle (don't get me started!), as well as any other non-traditional idea that is thought up. It's a little difficult for the older generation to see the new trends coming in and tradition going out. It's nice to have a little tradition, don't get me wrong ie. unity candle, garter & bouquet toss, the dances and speeches to name a few, but there are some things I am happy to see go... the dollar dance, TULLE :), traditional centerpieces - I love bold statements & colors and definitely happy to see the weird dresses everyone was forced to wear go! Oh the 90's. :)

Here are some new ideas that are becoming tradition over the past 5 years:

1. Let the bridesmaids choose their dresses and accessories in your color scheme.
2. Have fun things for your guests to do.
3. Choose colors that express you & do not limit yourself to just 2 - pick 5!!!
4. Let the groom express himself, chuck shoes, fedora hats - you get the idea.
5. Have a cool send off - my favorite... sparklers!
6. Realize it's not going to be PERFECT... your veil falling out at the alter is not going to ruin your wedding day... it makes for a great picture.
7. Stuffy traditional pictures were so last decade... choose someone that helps you look good and isn't just someone snapping pictures, they need to be an artist. There is no such thing as a non-photogenic person. What comes out on the camera is who you are!!
8. Choose a dress that is flattering to your body, not what everyone else is wearing. Girls with a big bust should NOT wear strapless gowns. This is where it's good to have small tatas! :)
9. Your wedding shouldn't be some production show... it's one of the happiest days in your life. Enjoy it.
10. Do whatever you think will reflect you. Be tasteful but definitely showcase who you and the love of your life are.

Planning at Work

2009-06-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

Here's a touchy subject that was brought up to me by one of brides and one of the many reasons she hired me. She was doing a lot of research at work because she just didn't have time after her 8a-5p job ended. Most businesses are closed after then and this resulted in her having to go against her company's policies and use company email as well and phone privileges. The biggest issue is EVERYTHING can be tracked which could land you in the office and in trouble! We're even able to track vistors on our pages through simple website optimizer programs... think of what your employer is able to do!

I know how much time and effort goes into planning a wedding so I can understand that there is a need to have time to be able to actually make calls but is it worth risking your job and reputation with your employer? Here are some tips to maybe keep you at peace with your employer during this time.

-Hire a planner! Ashley Troyer Events is completely committed to our brides and our business. We take care of the details, we take care of the phone calls & emails and keep you updated on progress. I am a phone call away Monday-Saturday from 9a-7p and we offer unlimited email and phone support in most of our packages! We're here to make your life easier!

-Talk with your employer about planning your wedding. Ask if there is a way you could schedule some personal days to take care of phone calls, meetings, etc. If you're honest up front, they will most likely understand.

-Ask if you can have access to the computer and internet during your lunch hour. Several brides have said their employer gave them permission.

- If your employer is not accomodating to your situation, take it one day at a time and get a few phone calls taken care of during lunch. Explain to the person that you are calling that you have a limited amount of time to talk and you are trying to get details for your wedding ironed out.

Children at Receptions

2009-06-23T08:00:00.001-04:00

The question, "What do we do with the children at our reception?" always comes up at some point with every bride, unless they are opting to have an adult only reception. I'll be honest, it's tricky especially when parents stay past their child's "I'm not entertained anymore" stage.

We recently did an outside wedding that had children buzzed off of the candy buffet and restless to run. They were into everything and couldn't stop running circles around us and screaming. We were a little concerned when they started playing with the photographer's camera that was set up for a photo booth and she was even more concerned when her oh-so-fun props became toys. After prying some of the items that she didn't want to have broken away from them, they played with the hats and sunglasses and pretty much played dress up. It was so cute and made some excellent pictures. So that gave me a great idea. Here's 5 tips to keeping kids happy at your reception:

1. Leave the crayons and coloring books for the toddlers, for the 4+ age bring a toy basket and add things in there for boys and girls.
2. You could borrow some toys or even pick some up at a garage sale.
3. Don't hold back on the toys. The grander they are the more the kids will be occupied!
4. Secure a place in a corner that can be the kids corner with a couple of tables and chairs.
5. Don't forget to have a couple people overseeing the children... their parents will appreciate the help!

Hopefully this will help your reception be free of kids forcing their parents to leave your reception early!

Changes and Cleaning House

2009-06-19T08:00:00.004-04:00

Well, I'm proud to announce we finally have all of our new logo materials and new website ready to launch, which means I can finally... finally start with my blog. You'll notice the new blog headliner that has been posted, that's just 1 of many things that are taking place around here. The website will be up and running Monday, at the latest Tuesday. It will not be at full speed as we are still waiting on some pictures from photographers, but we promise to have it completed by the end of the summer!

We're getting geared up for our first year in bridal shows as well. I previously heeded the advice from a very successful and well known planner. She told me she didn't advertise or do bridal shows and she's doing just fine. Which is true, she is doing very well for herself... but I think it's an experience worth trying and seeing how this works for us. We'll keep you updated on which ones we'll be at as soon as everything is secured. We're planning some fun things so it would definitely be worth your while to drop by!

Oh oh oh oh! I can't forget to tell you this! We were asked to do be a contributing editor for Wedding Day... which is a very nice bridal magazine with wonderful people behind the scenes running it! I've been able to meet with everyone now and I must say I am impressed. You can pick their magazine up at local vendors that are advertising. I know Elder Beerman, Macy's, David's Bridal, Images Jewelers & several others keep them in stock. Look for them On the Road. We know you'll love the goodies in the bags. I promise there is something fantabulous in there. {Insider Information...I was sitting down with someone today from Wedding Day when he got the call about a vendor insert. SO PICK UP A BAG, SERIOUSLY!! I'm still trying to figure out how I could get one. :] }

Well... I guess that's enough updating now. The next time you hear from me it will be all advice and opinion! :)

Have a great weekend!

A Note...

2009-06-18T03:58:00.004-04:00

To our fellow blog readers, we just wanted to let you know we're still here. Very busy, but alive! My next door neighbor Mark, who is in his upper 70's, stopped me the other day to tell me to slow it down, busy bees need a break too! Well, we produce events... there's not much I can do about that. But we do have a break for a week so we'll be back on here!

We have some fun new changes that we will be blogging about on Friday and early next week. We can't wait to share them with you! We hope you are enjoying the summer, it's been a little weak so far. We dodged rain on the 5th for an outside wedding, thank heavens! It sprinkled just a bit, but it actually kind of felt good after sitting next to a lake all day and not being able to jump in! Get out and enjoy the weather as much as you can, before we know it it'll be cold again!!!

Take care!

Your Wedding Budget and Why You Should Stick To It!

2009-05-22T13:07:00.005-04:00

This is probably the most important subject, I feel, when sitting down with my brides. We talk about this every time we sit down and I keep a very close eye on the spending we do.

The first thing you should do before hiring any vendor or purchasing any item is to decide what your wedding budget is. Through your planning process, you should be sticking to that budget as much as possible. The small things that you may want to incorporate into your wedding can send you catapulting over your budget and leaving you strapped towards the end of the process.

The wedding budget is what controls how your wedding will come together. You need a budget in place to determine several factors such as how many guests you should invite, where you should host your reception, should you have a served or a buffet dinner, will you serve beer/wine only or have an open bar, etc.

Whether your budget is $10,000 or $50,000 - you should always hire vendors that have the highest regard for your budget. If anyone says "We can stick to your budget IF you want us to" , they probably do not have your best interest in mind. Every event planner/coordinator should be providing a detailed budget as apart of their full service planning. It's my job as your planner to make sure that you have enough money to pay for your wedding and to keep you on track with your spending.

Your wedding budget always serves as a strong negotiating item. Sitting down with each vendor, you can determine quickly if they will be the best fit for you and if you have a smaller budget or a budget that is stretched, it's safe to say "This is our budget, how can you help us?". Most vendors want you to use a "Package" that they offer, if you can negotiate a customized package for you, you may be able to have most of the vendors that you want. Take into consideration, if you do not need or want some services your vendor provides, why should you be paying for it?

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, just plan it within your means and be realistic with yourself when trying to determine when, where, how and how much.

Happy Planning!

Packing For A Honeymoon :: Part II

2009-05-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

This part is more for what to do while flying. So as promised, here are some more tips and trick when flying to your honeymoon! :)

1. When flying, try to keep from getting a connected flight. These types of flights cause more time on the ground than in the air and will keep you from getting to your destination sooner. You also run more of a risk of having long lay overs and your baggage getting lost. If you can afford it, get a straight flight.

2. It's a good idea not to talk to TSA unless it's required by law. They are there for security, not to help you have a great flight. It's just better to move through security and do as asked. There have been situations when people have had a bad experience because they tried to be a little too friendly.

3. Know the rules to where you are going. Especially if you are going out of the country, research their regulations and laws. Know what to expect before you get to the airport to leave. Something that may be legal in America could be illegal in a different country, vice versa. Visit the US Department of State's website for tips on traveling abroad.

4. Pack lightly and smartly. The less you take, the less you have to worry about. Not checking a bag will save the hassle in security and could save you from having lost baggage. See Packing For A Honeymoon :: Part I

5. Get to the airport early. Especially if you have carry on baggage only. I've been on flights where passengers had to check their baggage because there was not enough room in the overhead bins. That defeats the purpose of carry on only!

6. Know TSA regulations. Passengers that refuse to know ahead of time hold up the lines for others in security. Anything liquid needs to be probably bagged. That includes your lotion, lipgloss, etc. Look at the TSA website for all of the different regulations.

7. Check different flight,hotel & car package options. I'll be honest. I have heard time and time again how great the inclusive honeymoon packages are and I'd definitely recommend them. But sometimes you can get deals from different websites like Expedia, that could be cheaper. Do your homework and read reviews!

8. Buy the insurance! Some think it's a great way to save money by opting not to purchase this, but when you are trying to have a great time with your new hubby/wife... what could be worse than cancelled flights, lost luggage, or even worse an accident not paid for? Pay for the piece of mind.

9. Bring favorite books, magazines, music etc. Flights can be long and tiring, you could be next to a screaming child, the airplane's systems could be down for movies & music and speaking of that, make sure you do have earphones with you so you can listen to a movie if you so choose - it's usually $1 to rent the airplane's.

10. Check out traveling websites. I can not possibly post every great idea on packing & traveling. There are so many resources out there! Definitely check them all out and use what works for you! My favorite website is TravelChannel.com - check it out!

Safe Travels!

Packing For A Honeymoon :: Part I

2009-05-18T03:00:00.008-04:00

With long lines in security and the chance of the airlines losing your luggage while on your honeymoon, we thought we'd help our readers pack all in carry on luggage to reduce time and risk. If you are an emotional packer like I am, it's so hard to pack for a trip because you never know what mood you will be in, so how in the world could you pick an outfit without bringing half of your closet? The answer to that is almost simple, but by experience I have found, pre-plan your outfits so you know what's going to be in there, vary your outfits using some clothing items more than once, use a black purse big enough to fit your kitchen sink in and keep the shoes to a minimal! So, that's exactly what we did. :)

We recently teamed up with Jules Boutique in Goshen, to help our brides pack for their honeymoon using only a carry on bag and purse! We wanted you to have a GREAT visual so we asked Imagination Photography to document it for us. {Thanks ladies! This was TOO much fun!}

:: Here is the carry on with all of the outfits and shoes in it.
(There was room for more)

:: Outfit #1 - Krista looking SUPER cute in clothing that would be super comfy for a plane ride. Shirt $26 - Leggings $22

:: Outfit #2 - Shirt $24 - (white shorts model's) - This is definitely a cute little outfit that will wow your hubby! :)

:: Outfit #3 - Jeans $62 - Turn the yellow shirt into an evening outfit with jeans and some heels. How cute is this?

:: Outfit #4 & 5 - Cover $38 - Bathing Suite $51- Wear the suite and cover up for lounging around the pool or beach. You can reuse the cover up for a casual day when you smartly decide to do nothing and go no where!

:: Outfit # 6 - Black Shirt $ 18 - (white shorts, model's) - I don't know if it's Krista or the shirt - but this is super cute! :)

:: Outfit # 7 - Using the jeans and heels again, you turn your cute day outfit into something very sexy. :)

:: Outfit #8- Dress $36 - Here's a very versatile dress. It's just simply amazing!

:: Outfit #9 - Turn the dress into evening wear by adding some heels and changing up the hair and makeup.

:: Outfit # 10 & 11 - Dress $28 - This dress is super comfy, using flats or heels you can make it as casual or dressy as you'd like. Put the leggings on for a comfy ride home on the plane. :)

:: Let's not forget that lingerie ladies! Every honeymoon needs it! :)

There was definitely room left in the bag for extra undergarmets and maybe a few pairs of flip flops. You may be wondering how you would get everything you would need for your trip in your bag. That's where the oversized kitchen sink carrier comes in. (At least that's what my husband calls it!!) Put all of your packed *liquids in the appropriate bag in your purse for easier access. Also, place your makeup bag etc. in this bag. You can leave these things at the hotel while you are out and about and just load them back up when you get ready to head home again! :)

I hope this gave you some fun ideas on how to pack lightly but stylishly! Check back on Wednesday for a few more tips and tricks on packing!

*There are certain requirements when traveling via airplane, one of them being how you store and transport your liquid. 3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3.4 ounce bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3.4 oz. container size is a security measure. Consolidate bottles into one bag and X-ray separately to speed screening. (TSA Website)

Think Outside of the Box

2009-05-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

We want you to think outside of the box... so we're doing that ourselves which means getting out from behind this computer! So we're off to do some super fun ideas for the blog. Miss Sarah is helping me with tomorrow's blog idea which will be posted next week or as soon as Imagination Photography gets the pictures completed. We're definitely excited about the ideas that we think you will very much enjoy because it's practical to a bride. Definitely check back next week to catch them!

Inspiration

2009-05-11T09:57:00.000-04:00

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.
-Aristotle

Have a Wonderful Mother's Day/Weekend!

2009-05-08T09:43:00.005-04:00

My Momma! :)

Mother's Day is such a special time for me and every year it has more meaning, especially now that I have a daughter of my own. I love honoring my mother, the special woman that has made me who I am today. I love you Mom with all of my heart and I am so blessed that you are my Mother and I thank God every day for the strength he gave you.

I am taking her to a Mother/Daughter Banquet tonight. I hope we have a great time! :)

Have a Happy Mother's Day to all of the Moms out there and to all of the daughters, love her and appreciate the love she gives to you!

New Wedding Songs II

2009-05-08T08:53:00.010-04:00

Here are some more new wedding songs for 2009 brides that I just absolutely can not get over!! Some of these songs are a little bit older but they definitely are NOT old - listen and see for yourself! (The Luckiest makes my heart melt....)

1. Michelle Featherstone - "We Are Man and Wife"

2. Ben Folds - "The Luckiest"

3. Cat Power - "I Found A Reason"

4. The Bird And The Bee - "How Deep Is Your Love"

5. UB40 - "Can't Help Falling In Love"

Related Post:

New Wedding Songs

Picking Your Wedding Planner

2009-05-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

I know that I am not right for EVERY bride. I am exceptional, I am not the exception. (Thanks Liene, I love it!) So here is what I want every bride to know. There are planners out there that decided to start a "business" and they may seem legit but are they really? Do they keep up on industry trends? Do they network with other vendors? Can you count on them?

Here are a few things to ask yourself when researching your planner:

1. Do they advertise? Not just saturating the free online advertisements, but do they actually PAY for their advertisement? Look for known paid advertisements, are they in there?

2. What does their website look like? Is it professional or something your 11 year old brother could do by himself? This is a good indication on how much they are investing into their company.

3. Do they have a team? Or are they a one man show? This can be a problem if something happens to them on your wedding day. You need reliability.

4. Do they seem TOO large? Having too many hands in the pot is not always a great idea. Do you know that you will be working with the same person from beginning to end? Will you get thrown with someone that is not as experienced as the owner?

5. Can you identify with them?

Your vendors are human and will make mistakes, but you need to make sure that those mistakes will not cost you your day. Your wedding planner should be someone that you can be best friends with after all you will be spending a lot of time together, do you it want to be someone that you will be annoyed with or have nothing but weddings to talk about?

Don't Stress!

2009-05-05T11:32:00.003-04:00

"Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet."

{So don't stress, because that scenario could be weird!}

:: Chicago Blogging Bootcamp ::

2009-05-04T15:49:00.011-04:00

Who knows what I was talking about here but obviously it was funny :)
(Ann, Me & Amanda)

The whole crew. I'm in the front row, 4th in from the right.

I just received the pictures from the Blogging Bootcamp in Chicago and had to share. Liene from The Smart Planner taught us how to create and maintain a great blog. It was such a great time meeting all the Midwest planners and photographers! Kathy, a fellow South Bend planner, from The Perfect Solutions and I were able to finally meet, it just proves that the competition can get along! I look forward to many more meetings with you Kathy! She's such a sweet heart! I was able to see my friend Amanda from La'Di Events in Chicago that I met earlier in April at another planner function. I also met another new friend, Ann from Hatch PR, also from Chicago. Ali from Engaging Events by Ali and the crew put on a wonderful spread. The food was great and I took a lot home with me from the bootcamp! I hope all of my readers reap the benefits from this! :) Thanks to Rick Aguilar Studios for the pics! They are wonderful! :)

Fresh Flowers vs. Silk Flowers

2009-05-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

I always get the question whether or not the bride should use fresh flowers or silk flowers. Most brides opt for the silk flowers if they are on a budget because they THINK that they are cheaper. I will disagree. Depending on what type of bloom you use, you can use fresh flowers for your wedding relatively inexpensively. Now I will say, there are some silk flowers that will be a little less expensive such as Orchids, that you can incorporate into your fresh arrangement that will save some money. A little tip from our floral designers, if you are using fresh flowers but want to use a silk flower to save money but still have a beautiful touch, submerse it in water. Water softens the edges and really adds something to it. The picture above is an arrangement that we did with hydrangeas and orchids submersed. The hydrangeas were fresh and the orchid was silk. You can't tell the difference!

Wedding Gifts and Registries

2009-05-01T08:28:00.006-04:00

Many people still consider sending the couple's registry information in the invitation rude. I have my own feelings on that and I think that the rudeness factor is just a matter of opinion. I have talked with several guests that actually would like for the couple to send the information and there are the other guests that see it as expecting something that you picked out. When you consider that the majority of the workforce in just a few short years will be 30 and under, that whole concept will shortly change as this generation thrives off of their lives being in a whirlwind of technology and the majority of everything at their fingertips. So with that said (fellow planners, please do not shoot me, it's not bad advice - it's the truth!) - what do you buy the couple? With registries everywhere - and maybe not one ounce of clue where to start, what do you do? I for one, do not enjoy buying off of registries. It's not personal and it's not something they will remember because they actually picked the gift out. I find it to be just as nice to do something for the couple that they will hold onto for as long as that item lasts. Something handmade like a quilt, pillow, afghan or something framed. I am a little more sentimental than most and I heart anything that someone has put their time and effort into. So to every bride out there, if you receive something from a guest that is handmade, cherish it because it came from the heart and that mod dinnerware will not be as cool a few years down the road!

Response Card

2009-04-30T00:32:00.007-04:00

It can be a little confusing when the invitation shows up with all of these cards, instructions, directions, and Lord knows what else is in that envelope! So here are some tips and your responsibility with the Response Card to make opening that envelope a little easier!

1. Sign your name on the Response Card. The M_______________ is intended for you to add your salutation, Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss so the couple knows how to address anything with your name on it.

2. Accept or Decline with a check mark or X unless the wording reads something like "There are 6 seats reserved in your honor ___ will attend ___will not attend. Then you would place the number attending/not attending in the blanks.

3. If they are asking how many guests, what type of entree you would like, etc. include that and send back as soon as possible. There is usually a send back date, but its really nice for the bride to have it before then, especially if you can not make it.

4. If you have forgotten to RSVP, please do not send it in the mail last minute! Notify the person that is receiving the responses as soon as possible.

5. Please be courteous to the bride & groom. Weddings are not inexpensive, so let the couple know what your status is if it changes. Contact them especially if you are not coming, they may be able to add someone in that they were unable to, due to guest number constraints.

6. Try not to discuss your invitation to the wedding with others that you aren't sure if they have been invited, there are many times when feelings get hurt because of people asking if someone has received their invite. Help the bride and groom avoid the stress of explanation.

6. When in doubt, ask!!!

Just Moving In Tips

2009-04-24T09:20:00.005-04:00

Just a quick tip for those of you that have recently moved into a new house or apartment after getting married. Sometimes money is short and you haven't accumulated a lot of decor items for your house. So you may move everything in and think it looks bare. Get some paint! Paint an accent wall or paint all over. It really adds something to a room. A gallon of paint can cost you anywhere from $18-$30, depending where you go. You can save a little money with an accent wall by buying a high grade paint, but only buying a quart. A quart can easily cover a 10x10 area. Also, choose earthy tones to give the room a warm and welcoming feel. It's amazing what a little paint can do!

New Wedding Songs

2009-04-22T13:24:00.005-04:00

I sometimes have the question of helping a bride with choosing a wedding song that is new, non-traditional or maybe some that might not be played on the radio often. I like to give ideas and let them choose. Here are 5 of my favorites:

1. Adele - "Make You Feel My Love"
2. Jason Mraz / Colbie Caillat- "Lucky"
3. Meiko - "Reasons to Love You"
4. Corrinne Bailey Rae - "Like A Star"
5. Jack Johnson - "Better Together"

Now obviously the song choice must be completely personal to you. These are just some new wedding songs you may not have known about!

Image credit - Imagination Photography

Meet the Interns :: Sarah

2009-04-20T09:00:00.001-04:00

Name:
Sarah Hartman

Where are you from?:
Goshen, Indiana

High School Attended:
NorthWood Highschool, Nappanee Indiana {Hehe... NorthWood MUST send out great minds! Ashley & Sarah went to the same high school! :) }

High School Extra-curricular Activities?
Cheerleader {Woot Woot! Panther Cheerleaders in the house - Ashley & Sarah share that same past activity!}

College Attending:
Hesston College in Hesston, Kansas

Degree Pursuing:
Associates in Business

What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?:
Maintaining a 3.5 and coming midyear...that was tough {Good job Sarah! We're proud of you!}

Biggest Challenges?:
Coming midyear (January) and trying to develop my own routines
after everyone else has gotten the chance to do so already

Why are you interested in Event Planning?:
I love using my creative side and helping others trying to
plan the perfect day for them.

What area in the event industry interests you the most?:
WEDDINGS

What makes Ashley Troyer Events stand out to you?:
I felt that the team had a laid back, fun feel to the work atmosphere. I loved the ideas that they put together.

During your internship, what do you hope to accomplish?:
I want to accomplish a true understanding of what I will do if I were an actual planner... I also want to understand the whole planning process

In 5 years where do you see yourself in your life?:
Married, established in event planning/management

In 5 years where do you see yourself in your career?:
established and working under someone else in the event planning field

Okay dish it! Do you have a significant other? (Tell us about him!):
His name is Alan Leichty. He is at Hesston with me and is pursuing a bachelors degree in biology, then going to study pre-med. I met him in high school (NorthWood) and we've been dating 1 year and 9 months. He graduated from NorthWood, took a semester of college off, then went to Ethiopia for 3 months.

We are so happy to have Sarah on board! She's been doing an AMAZING job with getting info together and giving great feedback! She's come up with some EXCELLANT blogging ideas and we're excited for her to get some of the research done so she can share her brilliance with you! Again, welcome aboard Sarah! :)

Vendor Issues?

2009-04-16T21:43:00.003-04:00

What do you do when something with a vendor goes wrong? Say for instance, something was not the way you thought it should be and guests commented about the poor quality. These situations are unfortunate but in many weddings it happens. Here are some ways that you can gather your thoughts and talk to them in a very mature manner that will leave you with your dignity and you will definitely gain respect from the vendor!

1. Collect facts about the situation and write them down. Make sure you have it together before confronting.
2. Find someone that can support you before doing any confrontation. Maybe another person that has paid for part of the wedding (mom, dad, in-laws, new spouse) and talk about the facts that you have come up with so everyone is on the same page.
3. Decide which method is best for you to contact the vendor. Phone, email, in person and then set a date to do the confrontation. The more constructive the confrontation is, the less likely you will have emotions flaring during that time.
4. Decide what the vendor can do to make it right and leave you happy or at least okay with the situation. Money returned? Free services in the future? An apology? Know what you want because most likely the vendor will say, "How can we make this right?" If you know what you want then you can get what you want and do not feel ashamed to ask for that!
5. Contact the vendor and tell them you would like to talk to them about the service they provided for your wedding. If you are wanting to talk to them by phone, ask them if it is a good time to talk now, or should you call them back? If you are going to meet in person ask them what would work best for them.

Marriage, Then What?

2009-04-13T20:24:00.005-04:00

So the wedding is over, the presents are opened, the honeymoon was great - now what?! You enjoy life!! Depending on your lifestyle, things don't really change all that much but compromise and the fact that you are now living together, but we won't go into that, that's a whole different subject!

I always tell my brides to make sure they don't completely give up on the life they had before marriage. You still need to visit the people that you visited before, you still need girl nights where you can dish about what's going on and you definitely need to have some alone time. It has been said that for a woman's sanity, they need other women in their life to listen to what's going on! So call your girls up when things are hectic, slow, boring or so interesting you don't know what to do! Take an hour for coffee, dinner or just to hang out. It has always refreshed my mind and soul.

Happy Weekend!

2009-04-10T07:28:00.003-04:00

Happy Good Friday! Have a wonderful Easter Weekend & enjoy the wonderful weather! See you next week! :)

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest." - Confucious

Meet Sarah - Our Rockin' New Intern!

2009-04-09T09:31:00.008-04:00

DRUM ROLL PLEASE... every one meet Sarah! Our new intern! Sarah is attending college right now and is SUPER interested in becoming an Event Planner! For now she'll be helping me with some administrative tasks and you'll see some of her creativity through posting blogs right here! We'll be molding and making her into a rockin' planner! She'll be attending planning and decor meetings to get the experience she needs! After Sarah's internship (or maybe even before then), we're hoping to bring her on as apart of our staff! We're so excited to welcome her to the team!

Check back for Meet the Intern :: Sarah next week!

Our internship program will definitely stand out as we are going to be giving our interns the ability to work in any facet of the wedding industry. We WANT them to excel and succeed and be better than great, even if they move on from our company in the future. We are committing to give them the best hands on experience they can possibly receive, not just use them as free labor. We will be doing regular reviews to see how they are coming along and their internship may be cut short and become a paid position within our company. After all, being a planner is MUCH MUCH more than showing up and doing some hard labor, it takes a very business minded person to excel and we're going to give our interns just that!

We have 2 more spots available for this wonderful experience! Contact me to learn more!

Meet The Planner :: Heather ::

2009-04-06T02:16:00.004-04:00

Name:

Heather Marie Martin

Sign:
Libra

Spouse?:
I am married to Jamie Dale Martin. We have been together for 16 years. God has blessed me with the most amazing man and I couldn't ask for anything more. He is my rock and my best friend. About a year and a half ago he decided to take a chance and start his own business. It has been exciting and scary at the same time, but I think his business is going to make it. The economy is struggling right now, but his business is the busiest it has ever been. If you need new gutters or leaf protection installed give him a call. Check out his website here.

Children?:
I have two children. A gorgeous 15 year old daughter, Taylor and a handsome 11 year old, Kiel (Kyle). I had them at a very young age but without them I would not be where I am today. They are my sunshine.

Pets?:
2 dogs. Oreo and Kenzie.

How did you get started planning weddings & events?
I have always loved planning birthday parties for my children and then I planned a baby shower. When I planned the baby shower I realized that I had a talent with creativity. It was an amazing shower! We had asked the mom to keep it a secret from herself when she found out what she was having. We received the results without her knowing and we planned the shower accordingly. When she came to the shower she was blind folded and brought in to find out that she was having a baby girl! I always put a lot of thought into everything I plan. I love theme parties and I love using original ideas. When Ashley asked me to join her in planning weddings and events I gladly excepted. I knew I had a lot of ideas to add to the creativity side.

What is the best advice you have received/best lesson learned?
Everything happens for a reason, "believe". Living life is about about learning the lessons as they come and growing from them. Make yourself who you are today.

What's your favorite thing in your Emergency Kit?
Everything as long as it takes care of an unexpected situation!

Favorite thing about events?
Being able to personalize and put creativity into decor, gifts, favors, etc. Some may think I'm crazy, but I love the pressure of having to have an event decorated and everything in place and ready to go by a certain time. The best part of all is the end result and knowing the client is happy and completely satisfied.

What do you think makes Ashley Troyer Events stand out?
What makes Ashley Troyer Events stand out is that the company is owned by someone that is younger so she can identify with brides. She is able to offer you options that are up to date, classic or trendy. We will go above and beyond to make everything that you ask for happen and if for some reason there is a problem, we WILL find a solution for you. We also will never turn you away because of your budget, some how we will find a way to help you, that's not common in this area. It's our niche to work with brides that have a budget.

Who's your favorite person in history?
Pedro from the Real World. He has passed, but his story is amazing. He died of AIDS, but until the day he died he did everything he could to try to educated people about AIDS.

Tee-Hee Thursday :: Bloopers

2009-04-02T06:55:00.004-04:00

To me, a wedding planner this is kind of scary but nevertheless, I wasn't there so laugh with me!

Wedding Bloopers

"Every mother generally hopes that her daughter will snag a better husband than she managed to do...but she's certain that her boy will never get as great a wife as his father did." - Unknown

Worth It Wednesday: Table Linens

2009-04-01T11:19:00.006-04:00

So I left a meeting yesterday so inspired to write this blog because one thing was reiterated to me, not through specific words, but through the entire concept of the meeting. It was all about linens. So I am going to pass on to you a little secret... the linens that come from warehouses in this area, used by caterers, are not top quality and they are basically table covers. Now does that mean they are not sufficient for hosting your reception or party? Not at all. But here are a few ideas to add in some high quality linens that will up your decor without breaking your budget:

Rent linens for the cake table or head table: Dress it up, make it funky and chic. This will definitely make a statement and be memorable.

Rent just napkins: When you look at the price of renting, it might make you say NO WAY! But after you place them on the table and they are the exact green, orange or pink that you have throughout your wedding decor, you can sacrifice in other areas because it will look FABULOUS!

Trendy DIY Project

2009-03-31T12:08:00.004-04:00

I found this idea while browsing through some favorite blogs and thought it was such a great idea I absolutely HAD to share! Not only would this idea be very inexpensive but it would be very green and a great way for guests to remember your wedding for years to come.

Materials:

White card stock
Small terra-cotta pot
Seeds of your choice
Seed Packet Design
Spray paint
Ribbon
Double sided tape
Scissors/Paper Cutter

Instructions
1. Create your Seed Packet Design

2. Once the packet is finished print it on a white card stock, but any color works also. Cut it out.

3. Fold the packet up and use double sided tape to seal the edges. Leave the top open to put seeds inside. Once the seeds are inserted seal the top edge so those seeds can’t fall out.

4. On a covered surface spray paint the terra cotta pot, upside down, whichever color you choose. Let dry for 30 minutes. Set the pot right side up and spray the top and inside as well. Let dry for another 30 minutes.

5. Once everything is dry, you can wrap a ribbon around the pot for decoration.

6. Let your friends and family watch their new flowers grow!

The beauty of this favor is how many ways there are to customize it. You could put seeds in for the flowers that are used at the wedding or any flower that holds particular significance for your relationship. You can also decorate the pot in any way that correlates with your wedding.

Original Blog

My Monday - Working With Great Vendors!

2009-03-30T08:19:00.003-04:00

I don't know how many times I say it to all off my clients, but it's imperative to choose great vendors that will provide several things for you - a great price, outstanding customer service, above average quality and the ability to work around your needs. This weekend we found a few gems in the industry. Let me introduce them to you:

Janie from Imagination Photography :: Her ability to capture your moment with style and flair is outstanding! We were so pleased to be able to get a few teasers for our curious minds. We can't wait to see the rest of the pictures! Her pricing is crazy! You can expect to get Big City service with small town pricing! She is even offering an Economy package for the time being for those with a lower budget, so you can get couture photography without paying thousands of dollars! Thanks Janie for helping us out on this!

Dave from Pumpernickel's Catering :: I will be honest, my job isn't always easy. At times it's very stressful, especially when things aren't going according to plan. So when it comes to the end of the night, cleaning up can be such a daunting task but it's apart of the job and we're happy to do it. Dave and his staff made that task so incredibly easy, I was in my vehicle and leaving at 10:30p and the the event ended around 9:00p, I think about a 1/2 hour of that time we were all joking around - I tear up just thinking about it! They were so polite to all of the guests, they had no problem helping us out and they served an excellent meal at an AMAZING price! We can never thank you enough Dave!

Wooden Wagon Floral Shoppe :: We had a last minute issue (yes they do happen) when a vendor called and said they couldn't fulfill our order for pew decorations. We had been banking on these for the last few months and even ordered early, but to no avail they called 1 week before and said they had made a mistake. So we had to do some last minute improvising. I called up my ladies at Wooden Wagon, they were able to get some flowers in and we created beautiful pew decorations. Thanks Dixie & Brenda!

When you work with vendors it should feel like they are apart of your team. Everyone should be working towards the same goal - making your wedding happen. These guys definitely did their job and did it well!

Trendy Favor/Send off Idea

2009-03-24T10:47:00.001-04:00

Here's a new idea for send offs and favors! We were searching for a unique idea for a bride and found this idea. Guests will wave the wands as the bride & groom run through. We'll update this post after this weekend with our twist, how to's and cost. It's a great idea if you want a favor that can be done inside with no clean up, just what our bride ordered!

My Monday - Design Find!!

2009-03-23T23:29:00.003-04:00

Are you a crafty do it yourself bride? Then you will LOVE this site because I definitely do! You can design programs, slideshows, invitations and find graphics for every piece of stationary for your wedding! It's $30 to sign up and you can get a free 8 day trial and download 2 items.

Click here to view the site!

Fun Friday! - World Wedding Traditions

2009-03-20T18:22:00.002-04:00

I have always been VERY interested in culture. Whether it be religious culture (I swear I wish I were born in India so I could have a lavish colorful wedding that lasted for days!!) or just national culture... it intrigues me. What better way to do explore that more with knowing more about wedding traditions around the world?!

Here are a few:

India

One ritual, which is found in almost every community is when the groom brings home his new bride, the groom's sisters block the entrance to the home and demand money from their brother as a shagun before they let him in. This is a fun filled and enjoying ritual. My favorite is the henna tattoos that the bride takes such great pride in getting! They even hide the groom's name in it!

Sweden

The bride will get not 2 but 3 rings for her wedding! Her engagement, her wedding band and a motherhood band. It symbolizes that a wedding is not just about two people coming together as one, but two people joining to create a family. Lucky lady! :)

Egypt

Just before the marriage vows are spoken - there is a musical wedding march called the Zaffa. There is traditional Egyptian music, belly dancers, drums horns and performers with flaming swords. Many Egyptians believed that the ring finger has the "vein amoris", the vein of love, which runs straight to the heart.

Phillipines

Guests dance around for hours, it's a dance called the Pandango. The bride will receive money by guests pinning it to her dress to pay for their honeymoon expenses! How many of you would be willing to accept that?!

Mexico

A tradition in Mexico is a white ribbon or rosary be placed around the necks of the newlywed couple, symbolizing the joining of the two souls.

Ireland

It is traditional for the bride to braid her hair, as it is considered a sacred way to preserve one’s feminine power and brings luck to the newlywed couple.

Meet The Planner :: Ashley ::

2009-03-19T09:22:00.009-04:00

Name:

Ashley A. Troyer

Sign:
Sag - why does everyone always want to know that???

Spouse?:
Yes. Only one though! Lol. His name is Anthony, or Tony as everyone calls him. He's amazing. He's my rock and I do not know what I would do without him! You can say all you want that this business is easy, fun, etc. But it is stressful, it is time consuming, and it does take you away from your family quite a bit! He's there to absorb that and be such a GREAT Daddy that our daughter doesn't even realize when I have been gone all day. He's the logistics behind the business. When I can't figure something out, or I just want to hand it off he's the one who gets to figure it out. He doesn't hear it often enough but he's an amazing business partner, father and husband! :)

Children?:
Yep! Summer Lyn. She's the light of my life! It's so amazing to watch her grow! She has a wonderful personality and she makes my heart melt! I love her to pieces! She loves Dora the Explorer, Wow Wow Wubzy, Oobie, her baby dolls, playing with her Daddy, cleaning floors (lol!), and playing catch with her dog. She's such a fun child but she's 2 going on 13. She found my razor the other day and tried to shave her legs! Oh no... we're in trouble! :)

Pets?:
I seem to be giving these away in the questions above! Yes we do have a dog, Brady - he's a Yorkie. He's spoiled. Very spoiled.

How did you get started planning weddings & events?
My story is unlike most... I didn't plan my own wedding and think, "Wow, that was fun! Let's do that one again!" I actually just had this idea pop into my head that I wanted to start a business and I wanted to plan weddings. I was 18. I think back now and although it wasn't THAT long ago, I was still so young. It was definitely not something I chose or fell into, it chose me! I have such a great passion for creating things, I love talking with people and I LOVE LOVE LOVE fashion, trends and weddings!

What is the best advice you have received/best lesson learned?
Well I think the best advice I have received, I received a few days ago, Mind your own "business". Meaning, do not worry about what the others are doing, do what you do and do it well! The best lesson I have learned is humility and forgiveness. My husbands parents are Amish. I have learned the value of having all of this "stuff". We take what we have for granted and when you look at people like the Amish who choose to not have materialistic things it makes you almost feel guilty for buying the things that are unnecessary. I think it has helped me to not feel like I need anything. I have also learned that you need to forgive and move on, in any situation in life. It doesn't matter the circumstances, forgive the person that upset you. You are only holding onto feelings that are hurting you! FORGIVE FORGIVE FORGIVE!!

What's your favorite thing in your Emergency Kit?
Double sided sticky tape, safety pins and sewing kit!

Favorite thing about events?
Weddings, I love the moment when they kiss and it's sealed. It's so final and surreal for me. Equally, I love when they walk into their reception and see how it looks with all of their guests and then the bride looks at me with the look of thanks in her eyes. It's like winning an Oscar or something! Corporate, I love at the end of the event when you get a hand shake and job well done by a CEO or owner of the company. It's very direct and non emotional like a wedding. They really are two different scenarios! The job is stressful, but it has so many rewards!

What do you think makes Ashley Troyer Events stand out?
We're not just a planner although we can just plan - we're event artists! We love to create and we love to create something just for our clients. There is no cookie cutter event. You will not find the same lounge scenery at every one of our events, the same centerpiece or decor item will not appear in our pictures. We love uniqueness! We are also so very budget conscious! We TRY to save you money. It's not about the glitz and glamour for us, it's about how we can make your day the day you have dreamt up and stay within your budget perimeters!

Who's your favorite person in history?
It's a toss up... Jaqueline Kennedy Onasis or Marilyn Monroe. Jackie was such a fashion icon. Women looked up to her for inspiration, she was very stylish and chic. Marilyn was such a drama filled creation that intrigues me. She did it her way and really didn't care what people had to say. She was so comfortable in her skin and I LOVE that about confident women!

Note: We'll be posting these for all of our team shortly! Keep checking back!

Tee-Hee Thursday! :)

2009-03-19T00:02:00.005-04:00

So we're starting to do some theme days for our blog to keep it interesting and updated. I'll be posting a blog schedule soon...

For the first day, it will be Tee-Hee Thursday. Check out this blog: Cake Wrecks - Really, you will sit there in amazement of just how many cakes look honestly horrible and they are suppose to be from PROFESSIONALS! Just goes to show you need to look at who you are using... REALLY WELL! Some of these you just laugh because how could someone actually pass it off as a cake and then you think, "Oh, that poor bride!"

What the Bride Wanted and What She Got!

"The man who smiles when something goes wrong has thought of someone to blame it on." - Robert Bloch

Events for Less!

2009-03-11T19:34:00.009-04:00

So today we are giving some of the top 10 ways to save money while planning your wedding...

1. Hold your wedding between December - March.
-Contrary to what some vendors will tell you, they SHOULD be giving discounts during these months! This is what we call off season or off peak time! No one really chooses these months because it's cold in this area... but you still can have a beautiful indoor wedding for LESS!

2. Stay away from Saturdays!
-The highest rates are on Saturdays because that's the biggest day to have a wedding! Choose a Friday or during the week if it will suite your family. Usually everyone has a Friday open in the evening, so you could create a romantic evening ceremony at 7pm and then have your reception begin at 8:30 and still have 4-5 hours to celebrate!

3. Demand a discount when you are holding your event on off days or off peak wedding season!
-We've actually asked about discounts during this time from some venues and they will tell us, "We do not offer discounts during that time." Um... hello? Who says no to a wedding even if you have to give a discount?! Brides... STAY AWAY FROM THESE PLACES! If they are not willing to work with you now, how do you think they will be when it comes to wedding day?

4. Work with a wedding planner!
-It may sound cliche because I am one, but in all honesty, a good planner should be able to get you discounts with vendors and they should know all of the ways to save you money! At ATE we have scoured the best advice and money saving tips. We can, on average, save you about 30% off of your budget! Make sure that when you are hiring a planner, they offer these services!

5. Take your pictures before!
-If you are up to non-traditional techniques, by all means take your pictures with your groom BEFORE the ceremony. This will save you about $1000 in hor dourves and pre-reception guest accommodations!

6. Choose 1 main dish!
- The good caterers will allow you to only choose 1 main dish such as chicken instead of having 2 or 3 that they normally offer in their packages. This can save you up to $2-3 per person!

7. Do a signature drink instead of an open bar!
-Every party should have a signature drink, so why not just have that instead of an open bar and save A LOT of money?! Its a fantastic, chic way to save some cash!

8. Cut your guest list by 50 people!
-Most events average about $100 per person. That's including the invitation, the centerpieces, the food, the favors, the chair covers and other rentals. Times that by 50 and you have $5000. Lower budgets average about $50 per person, that's still $2500! The new process to doing this is to word the response card with, "We have 2 seats reserved in your honor." This will limit guests to bringing only the people that you want there, it's also a good way to cut children out of the reception for an adult only soiree.

9. Hire experienced but not mainstream vendors!
-So you want a GREAT photographer, wedding planner, videographer, etc? Find one that does not have a ton of overhead! Maybe they do not advertise in every magazine but they still have had several weddings and just as many happy brides to vouch for their amazing services! FIND THESE TYPE OF VENDORS! They are more likely to go within your budget parameters... the other guys typically think they can get a bride to fill the day that you are requesting, so they will stand their ground!

10. Create conversational pieces!
-If you want decor that will intrigue your guests but that will not cost you a ton, create unique conversational pieces. For an upcoming wedding, we are creating a Time Capsule for the reception. With color coded slips of paper and buckets for the different years, guests are being asked to write down what the bride and groom will be doing 1, 5, and 10 years from now. It's a great way to get the guests mingling, its memorable and its inexpensive!

Bonus advice:

MAKE A BUDGET... and try to stick to it! It will keep you on track and you will have a guide line when you purchase your items!

Green Idea #1

2009-03-01T23:49:00.005-05:00

At ATE, we're always looking for new ways to be innovative, cost effect and green. Well brides, I found a great new cost effect, GREEN way to have a ceremony program that we're sure not too many have done before!

1. Collect about 20-30 pictures of you, your fiance, and your wedding party.
2. Create a slide show with the traditional introductions that you would have in a program.
3. Add pictures and music for a fun twist!
4. Display the program where ever you think your guests might see it! You could have one in the foyer and one in the sanctuary (elsewhere if you are having your wedding sans church of course!)

All you need for this project would be your computer, a projector, the ability to use a program like Microsoft Powerpoint (which is easy to learn and use with all of the helpful hints available online!)

Now... whose the lucky bride that wants THIS at their ceremony? If any of our current clients are takers we'll do this absolutely free! I want to see how this works! Many brides choose to have a slideshow displaying at their ceremony, but we have never seen the actual program posted in the slideshow... so this would kind of be 2 in 1! What a great idea.

NOTE: For the do it yourselfers... make sure that the photographer does not capture the slideshow on your wall in the santuary BEFORE taking it down, and please please take it down before the ceremony starts! We've seen some pictures turn out like this from unlucky ladies that didn't have someone there to tell them otherwise... EEK! :(

Design... FUSION!

2009-02-24T16:49:00.021-05:00

I'm always so excited to see what the trade shows for wedding and event specialist have to offer. Most of what some of my colleagues brought back from The Special Event, we were already introducing to our clients through other resources and our own ideas but there were alot more ideas for private parties and Design Fusion as I call it. Here are some of our favorites from The Special Event. We're ecstatic that The Special Event is in the city we just visited for 2010! New Orleans! It should be an exciting time as New Orleans will be getting all geared up for Mardi Gras... I can't wait to see the bright beautiful colors being shown through out the trade show!

Interview for Lafayette Newspaper!

2009-01-26T01:30:00.005-05:00

Save money by entertaining at home

Ashley Troyer of Ashley Troyer Events in Goshen thinks more people are entertaining at home.
"When the economy is like this, people don't want to spend money," she said.
Troyer said a couple can spend $60 for dinner and a movie. They could entertain at home and spend $30 to $40 to make dishes for eight to 12 people.
"I think it's more cost effective," she said.
To help those who want to entertain at home either to save money or stay warm, personal chef Eric Cox agreed to show readers how to transform an affordable home party into an upscale dining experience.
He prepared a three-course meal for four to six people on a budget of $60.
On the menu was a Caesar salad to begin, a mustard-crusted sirloin, roasted red potatoes and asparagus for the main course and a Kahlua mousse for dessert.
While working in the kitchen, Cox demonstrated that technique and presentation are key to making any dish look appetizing.
For his Caesar salad, he arranged romaine hearts in the center of the plate and accented them with red grape tomatoes and homemade croutons. He drizzled Caesar dressing over the top and added shaved parmesan cheese for an inexpensive dish that cost less than $1.50 a plate but looked gourmet.
"Presentation is key to everything," Cox said.
He said at-home cooks should take the time to design the food on the plate. Also, instead of loading a plate with too many foods of the same color, incorporate different colorful foods to give the plate vibrant presentation.
Presentation was also vital to serving the dessert, which was a simple recipe of boxed chocolate mousse enriched with Kahlua and meringue.
To glamorize the dessert, he served it in a wine glass --shaved chocolate and a twig of mint on top -- on a plate lightly dusted with Nesquik chocolate powder.
For a main dish, Cox recommended at-home chefs cook whatever they like, but meat and potatoes are a staple in the Midwest.
"It's important when roasting potatoes that you avoid getting too much oil on them because they won't brown," he said.
He also advised that cooks who are entertaining stick with recipes they know or try a new dish in advance and test it with friends.
Similar to Cox's adage that presentation is key, Troyer said if hosts want to make parties look expensive, dress up the setting. Some of her suggestions include making a centerpiece for the dining table and tying ribbons around napkins to make them look special.
She also suggested having calm and subtle music playing in the background -- John Mayer for the younger crowd and B.B. King for the older crowd.
"That will set the mood for what you do afterwards," she said.

Entertaining at home tips
Ashley Troyer, of Ashley Troyer Events in Goshen, gives tips for what to do after the dinner when entertaining at home.
Play card games, board games or interactive games such as charades.
Invite musicians you know over and have them play at your house.
Do theme dinners, such as a Mexican dinner night with tacos and margaritas and watch a Spanish film.
For women-only parties
Host a scrapbooking, quilting or Mary Kay party. F
or men
Have a poker or card night.
Have a football-theme night. The host can convert a Ping-Pong table into a football field using tape to create the yard lines and straws for the goal posts. The food is placed on the "field."

Link to this article http://www.jconline.com/article/20090125/LIFE/901250322

Yummy!

2009-01-25T17:21:00.005-05:00

So I was pleasantly surprised by Leah, my bride for March 28th... she brought in these scrumptious looking chocolates which I knew were Wilbur Buds from Pennsylvania that we are using for their candy bar.
We were talking talking talking and then she opened them!!! (Chocolate is my favorite!!) I couldn't stop at just one! They were the best! Better than Hershey's by far! They have this smooth texture that keeps you going back! And the biggest surprise yet!! Her mom wanted me to have them all to myself! Needless to say... They are half gone! I didn't do that all by myself though! My husband helped! Now I think I am going to go eat some more! :) Thanks Mr & Mrs Roggie! They are great!!!!!!

If you want to get them for yourself go to www.wilburbuds.com

What a New Year!

2009-01-03T19:15:00.005-05:00

Well as planned, we spent ringing in the New Year with wonderful friends! It was such a great time to see old friends and create stronger bonds! I was a nervous wreck though! My sister-in-law was in labor. She went to the hospital a little before 5pm. She had only dialated to 3 cms at about 1:30 am so they decided to speed things up with Pitocin. If you have had children you will know that this drug is not lovely! We ended up in bed at about 1:45am- an early night for us! :) At about 8am we received news that Chaz Allen was born at 7am! And to top the New Years baby... he was the first one in the area to be reported born! So Amy, Tony and Chaz were on all of the news stations! Yay!

I found out today that he actually was not the first... there was an at home birth that was not reported until last night I believe - that baby was born at around 5am. Oh well! :D

Summer was super excited to see Aunt Maymee's baby. Or maybe she was just excited to see her Aunt Maymee. She held Chaz yesterday afternoon and gave him kisses. It was super cute. My sister is pregnant and expecting the end of next month... can't wait for the new Jordyn Skylee! So many babies this year! How exciting! I think I may take a few days off to help my sister since I live only a couple of minutes from her... it's a perfect opportunity for me to spoil my nieces! :D Babies babies babies! Love them all!

Brrr... it's cold outside!

2008-12-31T07:59:00.003-05:00

Indiana weather... one day it can be freezing cold with icy roads and the next no snow on the ground and the birds are chirping! And now again on New Years Eve, it's snowing like crazy and it's pretty white out there! Hopefully it doesn't get too bad like it did last year! That almost ruined the whole New Years celebration!

We're doing the same thing that we have for the last 2 years... ringing in 2009 with good friends in Syracuse! It's always a blast! I definitely like the mid week break!

Next week I'll be busy meeting with new vendors for the 2009 season. I have a few vendor spots I'd like to fill for recommendations and of course we never recommend someone unless we've personally checked them out. The vendors you have on your special day are the most important thing you can do, not only do they make it happen but they set the mood and tone to how the event will go. Working with someone that is willing to tailor their services to your needs is pretty important also. It's kind of like going to a restaurant. How would you like for the waiter to say, "For 25 dollars you can have fish, corn, mash potatoes and a salad. For 50 dollars you can have fish, corn, mash potatoes, a salad, and we'll throw in a few rolls and there's no switching any of the menu items." But what if you don't like fish or what if the rolls really aren't that important for the extra money? You want them to give you what you want for what you are paying for. Vendors easily slip into the mentality that they are offering a service and you get what they give you. And they are going to go through with that idea unless you have someone to say otherwise. That's really what we do with our relationships with vendors. Most of our vendors have deals for our clients that they would NEVER offer to the public. In no way are we trying undercut our vendors. We love them! Without them we wouldn't be able to get the great deals for our clients. We just work with them to make deals for you!

Oh yeah... we're celebrating the New Year with our clients with 50% off invitations if you are in a signed contract by March 1st! That's up to $400 in savings! Wow!

Everyone drive safe tonight and Happy New Years Eve!

Exciting News

2008-12-30T15:21:00.002-05:00

I was just contacted by Wooden Wagon Floral Shoppe that is planning to hold a bridal show in Goshen on February 28th at the Maplecrest Country Club. She would like for me to hold a seminar to inform brides on how to ease their planning stress! How exciting! I've always loved to educate my brides when working with them, now I get to educate lots of brides all at the same time! As new information surfaces, I'll be sure to post! Today is a super exciting day!! I think my seminar will be on my favorite subject : BUDGETING! And of course I recommended to her all of my favorite vendors to participate! It's actually going to be free and maybe some donations to go to a non for profit organization! What a cool idea!

New Site - New Features!

2008-12-30T14:28:00.001-05:00

Wow! I almost forgot! Our new website has been launched today! We have a new client login feature that should be completed next week. This will really allow our clients to be apart of the planning process and keep track of where they are as well as give many many tools to aid them in making decisions! NO OTHER PLANNER HAS THIS! Yes we're innovative and ready to keep our clients organized and involved as much as possible!

We'll be showcasing this in our 1 hour FREE consultations with interested clients only. There will not be a demo for the public. Make sure you contact us to schedule your consultation today to view this spectacular feature! Wouldn't you just love to be apart of the evolution?!

Time to Update!

2008-12-30T14:14:00.001-05:00

So it's been awhile since I have written on here but it's been a crazy fall and winter! We're busy planning for Leah & Todd's wedding in March and this is just going to be one spectacular wedding with a budget of only $10,000! We've made some serious deals and Leah & Todd as well as my team - are super excited for the day to come! Everything has been planned and we even did some centerpiece samples for her parents that flew in from Pennsylvania the beginning of December.

With custom made and designed bridesmaid dresses, it sure has been stressful for Leah to get everyone into Affairs to Remember in Middlebury to get sized properly, but we made our deadline and the wonderful seamstress is getting the dresses done! Now we just gotta get Leah's dress in to be altered! Everything is turning out so beautifully! There isn't really a theme except maybe JCrew meets in the ballroom? Haha. Leah will love that one! The colors are black, creme, and olive. It's such a wonderful palette to have and with the large branches for centerpieces and tons of green hydrangeas and orchids attached... it's going to be beautiful. I'd post a picture of the centerpiece sample... but I'd hate to ruin it! So you will all just have to wait for the pictures coming in March. Which... this is my secret weapon - the pictures! :) I'm so excited for these it's unreal! I'll mention more after this week... but oh wow! You all will be blown away when you see what I have in store! :)

Oh not to mention the Jazz quintet that will be playing throughout the evening! Yes! We managed this with just $10,000!!! You can do this too and we can make it happen! Stay tuned for pictures after March 28th. Rich Bride, Poor Bride?? Heck! We can make any budget look spectacular! :)

How to write that wonderful speech!

2008-09-03T11:35:00.001-04:00

So she called and asked for you to be her maid of honor and you happily obliged and said yes! But wait... don't I have to like make a speech or something in front of all of those guests??! Yep, yep, and yeppers! There's no way of getting out of it, unless they don't want you to do one. Which, I think most people come to wedding receptions to just hear that speech! Usually you will get a funny one that has everyone rolling on the floor and then the one that has everyone grasping for their kleenex's because it was so heartfelt. So here's some tips on how to write that speech!! Good luck! And really... imagining someone in their underwear doesn't alway work. Grab the chapagne bottle! Okay... really I'm kidding!

WELCOME AND CONGRATULATIONS
1.Welcome the guests & & to the celebration of their special day.
3. Congradulate the couple and their family members for making this wonderful transition into a new life.

COMPLIMENTS AND PERSONAL NOTES.
1.Briefly describe your relationship to the bride and groom.
2. How did you met them? Can you come up with a funny anecdote?
3. Tell them what they mean to you.
4. Mention special people in the lives of the couple.
5. Refer to the joys of the meal in case you are an after dinner speaker.

KEY EVENTS
1. What are milestones in the lives of the bride and the groom?
2. In what key events did you play a part?

STORIES AND ANECDOTES IN A WEDDING SPEECH
1. Tell a funny anecdote about the run up to this wedding.
2. Look for funny speech topics about the groom or bride.
3. Tell a happy story of the bridal couple.
4. Visualize how they met for the first time.
5. Narrate how they have been introduced to the parents.
6. Mention and describe their common activities.
7. Describe their different characters, be nice and funny!

WISHES AND TOASTS IN A FREE WEDDING SPEECH
1. Express how happy everyone is.
2. Wish the bridal couple all the best.
3. Thank the guests for attending.
4. A joke or quotation can serve as good closing statement.
5. End your wedding speech with a toast!

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
1. Use brief notes on index cards.
2. Keep it short, 4 of 5 minutes is okay.
3. Rehearse your wedding speech in front of someone else and adapt recommendations.
4. Write down the words Break or Pause left from your writing topics to speak in a normal pace.
5. Make eye contact to the happy couple while you are speaking. Look around to the other guests.

If all else fails start crying and everyone will join in unison! :) Just kidding!

Here's a toast! To all of the lovely ladies and handsome men that have stood up and put it on the line for the Brides and Grooms! Thank you!

She's just not working out...

2008-08-26T14:22:00.001-04:00

We've all heard the tale of the bridesmaid that just isn't cutting it. She's not making the dress fittings and she's not coming to all of the things the other bridesmaids are attending... so it seems that she's cutting herself out. Touchy touchy subject...

Well here's the question that came up with one of my girlfriends... "I am in a wedding and 'bride' doesn't want her cousin in it anymore because she can't make it to some of the functions because of money and distance. What do I tell her?"

Well... here's my first reaction to that. Sorry, you chose her you live with it. Why? Because 1. She lives in the city 3 hours from here and you knew that before you asked her to be an attendant, and 2. She's family. I will say this, if you are really just uncomfortable of her holding the title of one of your stand ups... then you need to have the conversation early on with her about what you feel her duties are and what expenses she will incur accepting that responsibility. Being a bridesmaid is not all about the dresses and the dancing. You have a job and that job is to support the bride and groom in their adventure of a wedding and new life together and there is money involved and there are appearances that you should make for the sake of SUPPORT. (That's a whole other topic in itself and we'll touch on that later...) So before you say you ask a bridesmaid to be an attendant give her the run down of her duties and explain that there is a cost associated with it and it's definitely OK to say "No" if you just can't afford it or you don't think that you can commit to something of that nature. We all want this to be a wonderful and memoriable day... kicking someone out at the last minute will definitely be cause for unwanted hurt feelings and drama.