Summer Fun!

Summer Fun!

Summer has arrived! As we enter June and our excitement turns to vacations, family, sun and surf, what plans should you pencil into your calendar? Making the most of summer for many means catching up on reading, seeking out new opportunities, and spending time with our kids. Events By Deb is here to make some recommendations on how to optimize your summer for your social and mental nourishment! Summer months mean family trips! After a long school year your kids are going to be itching to explore a new location and release some tension. If you haven’t already booked a trip, scope out some AirBnBs within driving distance for a last minute vacation. Saving on airfare and creating a road trip style getaway allows you to take in some sights and stops along the way. Ask everyone involved to choose one stop they would like to take on the journey! Get involved! No matter your age, Summer is a great time to test out an internship or volunteer in your community. Searching for these opportunities is easy by asking around or searching one of the several great databases such as Volunteer NC. Getting connected in youth support programs, soup kitchens, sport teams, and other community improvement projects is a fulfilling way to spend some summer hours. Another way to improve is to hone in on a skill you are hoping to gain experience in and apply for a volunteer or internship position to gain connections and network. What are your plans now that school is out and summer is here? Hopefully you’ve taken some tips from our blog to...
4 Tips on How to Flow Better With Your Event/Wedding Planner!

4 Tips on How to Flow Better With Your Event/Wedding Planner!

(1). Interview your planner because he/she’ll be interviewing you.     (2).  Before signing a planners contract make sure to read his/her contract, clauses and guidelines.  Looking over these details will ensure you and the planner are all ways on the same page! Know what you’re signing and have a conversation about anything you’re uncertain of.    (3). Be on time and prepared for all appointments and or conference calls. Know that your planner wants to offer 100% of their support on the call.   (4).  This is a huge day, and your planner is there to help guide you in making decisions on major details, vendors, and so much more. Vendors tend to book up quickly for certain dates, so being decisive will guarantee your first choices are locked...
Are Bridal Shows Worth Your Time?

Are Bridal Shows Worth Your Time?

It seems like bridal show and expos are everywhere around a certain time of year. The big question: is it worth your time to attend one, or multiple of these events? Pros Swag! You’ll get loads of goodies from these expos and who doesn’t love free stuff! From pens to mini champagne bottles to cupcakes to neat little items that you can throw in your purse we see so many cool freebies! This is also a great time for vendors to give out coupons and deals for their services which will help a lot in the long run if you find your perfect match and end up booking one or a couple while you’re there or afterwards. No pressure. This isn’t a sit down conversation which insinuates you’re going to book us. The casual setting makes it a great opportunity to see the true personality of many wedding vendors and see if you connect right off the bat. This also saves you a lot of time overall, because you’re not squeezing in multiple hour long appointments with several different vendors, and you can feel out within the first couple minutes from the table display and conversation if they’re going to be right for your wedding. Visuals. We have seen some absolutely stunning displays at these events. From cakes to wedding dresses to fully set tables, we swoon over the bridal glory these events bring to the table — literally! If you have any uncertainties of what you’re looking for (because let’s be real, no one has it planned out to every last detail) then you’ll have plenty of visual...
Tips & Tricks To Planning Your Next Event

Tips & Tricks To Planning Your Next Event

When embarking on the large task of planning an event you may not know where to begin. As professional wedding planners, we have some inside secrets from the successes and obstacles that we have faced in our experience with the world of event planning. How to plan the best possible event without going overboard, over-budget, or overworking yourself. The key here is to work smarter and not harder so you can take the time to enjoy your event and all you have created. Budget First The biggest blunder we see people get into when planning an event is not establishing a set in stone budget beforehand. We see this topic come up a lot when discussing any type of event planning because it truly is the foundation of the planning process. The most important tip we have for anyone is to sit down and evaluate financials. This means the money available at the moment first and foremost. You may be allotted a certain amount from a company or person, or be working with out of pocket cash. Don’t rely on promises, possible raises/bonuses, or anything that isn’t guaranteed and factored into your typical, weekly budget. Prioritizing Is Key After laying the foundation the next step is the building blocks of the event. Consider the type of event you are planning and ask the big W questions: who, what, where, when. At this point you want to start to divvy up the above decided budget into importance so you know what you can settle on and what deserves your time and resources. Who will be invited? This will determine your...
Wedding Trends

Wedding Trends

We have Spring Fever over here at Events by Deb! Our sunny season brides are gearing up for their big day and we are following close to what is trending in the wedding industry with a close eye. An important part of being a wedding planner is to keep tabs on any and all upcoming trends happening now and even a year out considering how long the planning process takes. What’s trending? Pantone’s Color Of The Year 2017 is Greenery and we are seeing cheerful hues pop up in wedding trends for the Spring and Summer. We are in awe over soft, organic eucalyptus being incorporated into bouquets and floral arrangements. Our favorite integration of this trend is replacing the traditional cloth table runner with an interwoven mix of greens and pops of bright flowers. No centerpiece is needed with this decadent spin on the traditional centerpiece! Vintage inspired themes are making a huge impact on weddings. Brides will be requesting deep waves to compliment their delicately beaded and lace covered gowns. We are excited to see new hues in lipstick and makeup mavens influencing purples and reds into the wedding scene. We love the request of rustic barns for venues to compliment mason jars and vintage heirlooms. Expect to see strings of lights and glowing candles among glimmering metallics. The wedding hashtag has become a must have and still trending strong. Couples are creating their #perfectphrase to connect their love into something catchy for social media. With Instagram and Facebook hosting the majority of our photos, this is a great way for the couple to promote fun inside...
Amanda + Loren Pottinger | Charlotte Holiday Inn City Center | Charlotte, North Carolina

Amanda + Loren Pottinger | Charlotte Holiday Inn City Center | Charlotte, North Carolina

As a wedding planner, I love the unexpected connections and relationships I am constantly making in this industry. Back in September 2015, I was exploring online for a business to assist me in creating flyers for various holidays, weddings, and prom. After scouring the internet for local options, a company called Creative On Paper hit all the vibes I was searching for. The owner of the business, Amanda, responded promptly and professionally with quotes and amazing material. Months later, I attended the Charlotte Bridal Show as a vendor where I hoped to meet many of my social media followers. Amanda came up to me and said, “Hi, I’m Amanda!” to my puzzled expression she laughed and said, “You know me, from Creative On Paper!” and from there we bonded over her recent engagement and shared love of our artistically inclined professions. Months later, I was ecstatic when Amanda called me to schedule an initial complimentary hour consultation for her upcoming wedding. At the meeting I had the pleasure of meeting her fiancé, Loren, with a bold personality and beaming love for Amanda. We could have chatted for much longer with the ease of conversation and creative ideas they had already come up with. They truly were two of the funniest people we have had the opportunity to work with. Having the ability to laugh with clients and share a mutual love of creating and planning makes the process so much fun! With Amanda’s background knowledge of graphic design and marketing, we became a very productive duo when planning. She had her own artistic flair I was able to work...
Why You Need A Planner

Why You Need A Planner

Over budget, overworked, and overwhelmed? Your trusty event planner is here to save the day! We may not wear a cape, but our thank you letters often make us feel like a superhero. When there are so many major components and tiny details to a big event or wedding, going it alone can seem like a never ending jigsaw puzzle. When consulting with prospective clients, we touch on many points that leave them feeling relieved to have our services. So you may be wondering, why do I need an event planner or wedding planner? We Stay Neutral You can be honest with us, about anything! Sometimes, the most important role we can offer our clients is to be the neutral third party to common dilemmas. We do a lot of listening! Whether it be setting you straight on how realistic your Pinterest Wedding Inspiration options may be, or diffusing the budget battle with your fiancé, having someone who isn’t friend or family can be a major necessity in the planning process. We Keep You On Track Budgets, timelines, vendors, oh my! With so many moving gears in the planning process, having an event planner or wedding planner will eliminate the guess work on executing everything without a hitch. We also have major connections. That’s right, we do all the networking so you don’t have to. Once we establish your budget and priority list, the deep files of our brain start picking out the perfect places to purchase linens or the best DJ for your style. Even better, we know when a vendor sounds too good to be true and...
Spring Company Team Building Events

Spring Company Team Building Events

There’s something that awakens inside all of us as we transition into Springtime. With the perfect breeze, rays of sun adding warmth to the air, it is the ideal time to plan company picnics or team building events. This is also a crucial time to build team morale and welcome any new hires before Summer, when many employees clock in and out on vacations and time with their families. When everyone starts gathering around the windows longing for some sweet spring air, plan one of these great team events to keep your business on track! Goal Oriented Many of us have been part of a team building even or company picnic, but making the most of it requires a little bit of planning. That’s where an event planner can help execute the perfect day so your budget isn’t exhausted on daydreaming. The first thing to ask yourself is: What do I want my team to get out of this event/picnic? What are my team’s strengths and weaknesses we can harness and build upon during the event? From here, we can pinpoint what direction to go in with your event so everyone attending leaves invigorate and inspired! Get Physical We love the idea of a challenging team building venue that offers programs for all skill levels. Extreme challenge in Charlotte, offers a wide variety of obstacles and outdoor fun that every member of the team will be able to participate in. What is great about venues like this is the versatility of their accommodations. Their staff is knowledgeable to make recommendations on courses or exercises that can bring a disconnected...
Loving Life & Not Just Things

Loving Life & Not Just Things

It is easy to get caught up in the world of working for things. We’re all guilty of it, and often have to take a step back to remember the whys of needing to purchase items or save up to spend. While we all have the necessities, we plan on stepping into Spring with a clear head and heart, and really appreciate life without all the material that goes along with it. Good Vibes Only We’re making some changes this year and 2017 is full of only positive thoughts! Start your day with 5 personal goals and 5 professional goals. Writing down your thoughts after waking up is a great way to purge any lingering ideas from the day before and set your day in motion with a plan of action. At the end of the day, write down 5 things you are thankful for and 5 things you did well that day. Self-motivation is extremely powerful when you have positive and focused thoughts. We recommend keeping a journal with you to jot down whenever you feel inspiration, or to work through any anxieties. It is often as easy as purging those thoughts onto paper to get them out of your head and then make a plan of change. Get Inspired Find the creative outlets that get your mind moving and gears turning. We try to pick up at least one book a week and read cover to cover between Monday and Friday. Whatever the topic, enjoy fully and let yourself be immersed. If you don’t think you can fit an entire book into your schedule, jump online and...

How To Propose AFTER Valentine’s Day

Did you feel the pressure to pop the question on Valentine’s Day, but didn’t think it was just right? You did nothing wrong! The traditions of Valentine’s Day often associate to marriages, courtship, and proposals but hey, these are more modern times. Waiting until after the holiday lets you make the day about your relationship, and not commercial notions of red roses and chocolates. Make It Special The bright side: she is definitely not expecting it. After the holidays, Valentine’s Day in the media and internet does everything it can to make us think we have to complete a grand gesture by February 14th. Once the evening passed and no ring was dropping in the champagne or hidden in the dessert, she probably relaxed a little bit and just moved on the February being just another month. Time for the surprise! Everlasting Love The best way to propose after Valentine’s Day is to keep calm and kick anything tacky. It may be tempting to go after some of the on sale V-Day items, but personalizing the proposal will show her you intended to plan the moment after the holiday and didn’t just botch it on the 14th. Whatever you did for Valentine’s Day, do the opposite. If you treated her to roses, chocolates, and a fancy dinner, bring her to the place you met or put together your own home cooked meal. Planning a weekend away post Valentine’s Day is also a great idea to take her out of her expectations and get swept away in relaxation away from home. Without having to stress about cooking or cleaning, you...