Matters of the Heart: Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? When Others Take The Lead in Planning Your Wedding

Matters of the Heart: Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? When Others Take The Lead in Planning Your Wedding

Your wedding day is a special time to celebrate your love and future. So often, we see third parties taking over this big moment with their input. When your future in-laws and over-opinionated friends try to take the lead, how do you pull back to achieve your dream day – not theirs? Put Your Foot Down This is one scenario, no matter how light-footed you may be, you have to be strong! Your wedding day is a once in a lifetime experience. You cannot let others dictate details and alter your dream. Learning how to firmly say “No,” when reacting to the overbearing suggestions of others can feel negative but is very important to your planning process. Explain what your ideas are and try to find common ground. If you don’t want to wear your mother’s wedding dress, state the kind of style you are looking for and why the experience of dress shopping is important to you. If you have a relative trying to take over some of the planning, sometimes it is best to simply say you have hired someone to handle those tasks, and their attendance is all you need from them. Be Honest! Take advice with a grain of salt – or maybe a scoopful. It is okay to allow others to interject their experience and ideas for your big day. In fact, it can be beneficial to see where aspects could be improved. However, you have to be honest when dealing with friends and family who are overstepping their boundaries. Let them know you respect their desire to help but you have a professional...
Party Decor Tips – When You Don’t Know How To Decorate!

Party Decor Tips – When You Don’t Know How To Decorate!

Throwing a party is an exciting way to get creative and impress your guests! When you don’t know how to start decorating, think of these couple tips to get started! Start with colors. Choose 2-3 colors that go with your party theme. No theme? No problem! Keep it casual and go with versatile, classic options like streamers, tissue pom-poms, and hanging lanterns.  Create an ambiance with lighting and set out simple table cloths. Amp up the eatery. Choose utensils, cups, napkins, and plates that add a little extra classiness. Party stores have an amazing selection of these items that can match your color scheme or pair perfectly with a crystal-like look. Let the refreshments become decor. Put a signature beverage in a drink dispenser and let your guests serve themselves with ease. Place with a metal bucket filled with ice, bottles, and cans along side wooden cutting boards with snacks such as cheese and crackers. The visual elements of your display will add to the decor while being functional. Place a bundle of balloons and...
Labor Day Ideas For A Great Party

Labor Day Ideas For A Great Party

Labor Day marks the end of Summer, but that doesn’t stop us from celebrating! When the temperature cools down our grills heat up for great Labor Day festivities. How do you throw together a great party that will leave an impression?  Red, White, & Blue Desserts! Layer blueberries, strawberries (or raspberries!) and vanilla pudding or cool whip for a totally Patriotic dessert that’s packed with fruits! It’ll be a healthy alternative for the kids and a bright addition to your meal. Speaking of food – go Potluck! Invite your friends to bright their favorite dish to share and bring the recipe to share the wealth! This will guarantee everyone, regardless of any dietary restrictions, has something to eat – and everyone will love sharing something they love! Enjoy some rays! Set up the party with an indoor and outdoor option so your guests can enjoy the end of summer but be able to duck inside if weather changes. An unexpectedly hot day or rain shower won’t ruin your...
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...
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...