Eventful Ideas

The Price of Being a Bridesmaid

2011-07-15T20:10:00.000-07:00

You meet your friend for lunch and she proceeds to tell you that her boyfriend has proposed and once you have gotten past the initial excitement of the news you quickly ask for all the details. Once all the major details have been explained such as when, how and where the proposal took place she remembers the most important detail of all and with a smile on her face as large as the Joker from Batman she extends her hand to show you her new shinny piece of jewelry. As you stare at the ring and take in the news, the bride-to-be asks you to be a part of her wedding as a bridesmaid. As we all know being asked to be a bridesmaid is an amazing honor and of course your first thought is “yes” but what most women don’t realize is the expense they have signed up for when they agree to be a bridesmaid. It’s exciting to stand at the altar and watch your friend(s) get married but not if it will break the bank.

According to www.weddingchannel.com when you add up the cost of travel, shoes, dress, jewelry, hair, makeup and gifts, the average cost of being a bridesmaid today is about $1700. I decided to do some research of my own and ask friends to estimate what they spent as bridesmaids recently and the average answer was $800 - $1000 for a local wedding.

Tips for the bridesmaid –to-be:

Just because the bride asks you to be in the bridal party, doesn’t mean you have to say yes. Speak up at the beginning in regards to your budget and whether or not you can afford the expense, you shouldn’t go into debt for anyone’s wedding.
There is nothing wrong with a low cost alternative. If the bride chooses a dress that is way over you budget feel free to research and suggest some less expensive alternatives similar to the bride’s choice.
Being in the bridal party should feel like a prom committee. The bride should let the maid of honor know not to make major decision without consulting everyone involved. The maid of honor should discuss with all the bridesmaids any ideas or plans she might have for the bridal shower or bachelorette party ahead of time to make sure it is within everyone’s budget.
Lodging doesn’t have to be lonely. When you’re in a bridal party for a destination wedding don’t feel like you have take on all the expense yourself. If possible find out if there are other single girls going and discuss splitting the room cost.

The important detail to remember is the marriage is what’s important and all the bells and whistles are just a bonus. Brides should not impose large costs on their loved ones because a happy bridesmaid leads to a much smoother wedding day! After all weddings should be a time to celebrate so above all have a good time!

10 tips for choosing the right event planner

2011-05-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

When planning any type of event the details can become over whelming and the need for an event planner can arise. However choosing the right event planner can be a task in itself because you may not know what to look for or avoid. Here are some helpful tips in searching, interviewing and choosing the best event planner to fit you as the client and the event you are planning!

When beginning your search I suggest shopping around before making any final decision to make sure you get the best bang for your buck!
As a consumer you must always remember that not every planner is a great fit to every client so while referrals are a good way to start don’t feel obligated to choose them.
Never be afraid to ask any question because a true professional will always be willing to answer your questions and provide the best service possible.
A good planner will always offer suggestions or alternative options but the decision is ultimately yours as the client so if they are not willing to follow and create your vision then they are not the right planner for you.
It is important to know what kind of experience they have in event planning (e.g. how many years they have been in the industry, what types of events they have done, etc). You should also ask to see samples of their work, and any testimonials they may have.
If you have specific needs you want to ask if they have dealt with specifics like yours (e.g. a non-profit fundraiser has many specific details and elements that must be followed; as a client you would want to go with a planner who has experience with fundraisers.)
Look through magazines or the internet and bring pictures to your consultation for the event planner to see the vision you are going for so that there is no confusion about your expectations. Without visual aids it is sometimes hard to fully express what you’ve seen and as a client you might end up with an event that does not match your vision.
Find out if they are getting paid in other ways! In some cases event planners make deals with certain vendors to get a commission off their referral to their business. You want the best for your event and in cases such as this the planner may be more concerned about their pockets rather than the best fit for you.
The most expensive is always the best. If you see a centerpiece in a magazine, TV or at another event take pictures to local florist and shop around before making a final decision. You will be surprised how much you can save by shopping around and comparing prices. In some cases you can even get a centerpiece better than the original you envisioned because you are able to add your own personal touches rather than just replicate the design.
Most importantly have fun! The event planner is supposed to take some of the stress from you not add to it! Make sure they are not just a professional fit but also a personal one because when planning a big event you will be spending a lot of time with them and you want to make sure their personality is fit to yours otherwise it might not be a very pleasant experience.

Over all it is always important to remember that it is your event and the event planner is there to execute your vision and if they can’t you shouldn’t settle for a planner who takes away from your vision rather one who adds to it.

The Wedding Salon Event (NYC)

2011-04-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

The Wedding Salon Event was filled with many brides to be and a lot of options for them begin their wedding planning. The booths ranged from Laser Skincare to every destination spot imaginable for a honeymoon or wedding. For more information on The Wedding Salon and their upcoming events check out their website www.weddingsalong.com or follow them @ www.facebook.com/TheWeddingSalon or HTTP://Twitter.com/WeddingSalon.

Eventful Ideas attended The Wedding Salon Event on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 @ The Manhattan Center Studios. For a list of vendors in attendance visit www.WeddingSalon.com

*Next local Wedding Salon Event scheduled for July 20, 2011 @ The Manhattan Center

The Wedding Salon Event

2011-04-24T20:29:00.000-07:00

Wedding Salon Event

Date: April 27th

Location: Manhattan Center Studios

Time: 4pm - 9pm

The show promises to be an exciting bridal shopping event featuring the top names in the industry including Sylvia Weinstock, Shawn Rabideau of Bethenny Getting Married, Table Décor by David Tutera for Disney Fairy Tale Weddings, Dream Honeymoon Giveaways & much more.

For complimentary tickets use Code PWNYC @ www.WeddingSalon.com or Call 212.631.7777

The Bridal Show @ Melville Marriot

2011-04-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

The Bridal Show was filled with everything from centerpieces to candy tables. They had a bridal fashion show courtesy of The Wedding Center in Commack, NY, with many of the latest styles in Bridal Gowns, Bridesmaids dresses and dresses for Mother of the Brides/Groom. Although it was much smaller than other bridal shows I've attended there was many vendor in attendance that would be very helpful for planning your perfect wedding.

Eventful Ideas attended The Bridal Show at the Melville Marriot on April 13, 2011

The Great Bridal Expo

2011-04-09T22:50:00.000-07:00

Wedding planning can be very stressful and Bridal Expos are great ways to start the wedding planning process because they can be a one stop shop for some brides. The expo was filled with great booths such as Resorts, Florists, Make Up Artists and Invitations. Most booths also offer free giveaways like magazines or candles and have contests that allow you to win anything from a free wedding/honeymoon or free invitations.

Many of the booths consisted of all inclusive resorts offering wedding service, making it very apparent that Destination Weddings are a very hot trend at the moment. One reason they are so popular is because destination weddings allow the bride and groom to travel to a unique destination and share their vacation with their loved ones. It also allows them to create such a memorable occasion in a unique, magnificent destination making their guest feel special. Another great benefit is cost...destination weddings can cost significantly less than the traditional wedding at home and also allows for a multiple day affair. With a destination wedding it's not limited to a wedding day...you can have a wedding weekend full of activities that will make for a very memorable trip!

Eventful Ideas attended The Great Bridal Expo on Friday (4/8/11) @ the Marriot Marquis in Time Square.

Sweet 16 !!!!!

2011-03-05T19:57:00.000-08:00

Themes are always a good way to add a personal touch to your sweet 16...however the big question is what is the right theme for you??? The answer....follow your instinct and do what's personal to you! If you enjoy the stage have a Theater themed party; if you're an actress in training go with a Hollywood/Oscar Night theme; and if you're into sports use your favorite team for inspiration! You can't go wrong as long as the theme reflects who you are and what you like because there is no right or wrong theme.

Other great theme ideas include:

Mardi Gras
Hawaiian Luau
Halloween
Masquerade Ball
Winter Wonderland
Cinderella / Princess / Fairytale
Totally 80's
Disco
Sock Hop (50's inspired)
Carnival / Circus
1920's
Fiesta
Safari
Candyland
Specific Location (ex: Paris, New York, etc.)
Specific Broadway show (ex: Phantom of the Opera, Young Frankenstein...)

Spring 2011 Party Trends!

2011-02-17T17:01:00.000-08:00

Basic simplicity is the way to go this spring! Stick to nudes, whites, and beige when deciding on decor! No need for all the extra hoop jumping...keep it simple! As far as food go the comfort casual route such as mac and cheese or pigs in blankets! When it comes to choosing wardrobe stick with floral prints, white, lace, block colors, and over all minimal...as the saying goes less is more!!!

Plan the perfect wedding day

2011-02-11T18:19:00.000-08:00

While searching the web for wedding ideas I came across a lot of different wedding websites that I found helpful. Out of all the different sights I visited these were my favorite. I found all of these to be easy to navigate and had a lot of useful information.

www.getmarried.com

www.shop.getmarried.com

www.theknot.com

www.weddingwire.com

www.weddingish.com

www.perfectweddingguide.com

www.mywedding.com

www.onewed.com

www.weddingchannel.com

www.weddingsolutions.com

Popular Event Trends for 2011

2011-01-24T11:24:00.000-08:00

Personalize your event! Attention to detail is so important and it can make or break an event!
Entertainment! More and more people are having various types of entertainment at their events instead of just music! For example a walking dessert table could be a fun, interactive piece of entertainment your guest will be talking about for days!
Going Green! Being Eco-friendly is the "in" thing to do right now and it gives your event a fun and personal touch!
When deciding on colors...go with a neutral palette or mix a bold bright color with black!
Mix matching fabrics will give your event a whimsical touch.
Rather than stuffy been there done that flower centerpieces you could go with table lamps with fun colors!
Themed events are always fun because they help tell a story and give you the ultimate personal touch for any event! ( example: Alice & Wonderland is very popular right now)
Impress your guest by using LED's and Neon to light up your party! Your guest will appreciate the creativity!
An last but not least Low Cost Catering...keep it simple and treat your guest to fun comfort food with a twist!

Be a guest at your own event

2011-01-21T17:38:00.000-08:00

Whether it's your birthday, graduation, fundraiser, sweet 16, wedding, anniversary, bridal

shower or engagement party, hire Eventful Ideas to handle all the
behind the scene details and make your special day a reality!
Eventful Ideas specializes in Day of
Coordination services at an affordable price!

Eventful Ideas is a full service event consulting firm with services including, full-service event production, fund raising, venue and event marketing and more.

Email: eventfulideas@yahoo.com for details!