CR Socials Event Planning

Who's Your Valentine This Year?

2012-02-10T21:40:00.000-05:00

Up until this year, I always thought of my "Valentine" as my significant other. This year, that whole idea went right out the window, thanks to this little guy!

This year my Valentine is my son, Kyle. Although he's only 7 months old, I started to think of things I can do with him on Valentine's Day in the future. If you have little ones, I hope this will help you. Happy Valentine's Day!

1. Start the day off with a family breakfast - heart-shaped pancakes are a great choice!

2. Create a homemade valentine, complete with red and pink construction paper, glitter and doilies!

3. Read a book to your child with the word "love" in the title. One of my favorites is "I Love You Stinky Face".

4. Make a special ice cream sundae bar for dessert.

5. Have your child write a love letter to the other parent and grandparents.

Kristina & Rob's Winter Wonderland Wedding

2012-02-07T20:57:00.000-05:00

I absolutely LOVED this couple! Kristina and Rob were just so sweet! I met Kristina at the first annual Testa's Bridal Event in February 2011, but she was also a friend of one of my interns. I didn't meet Rob until about a month before the wedding.

This couple and their families were just so fun to be around. We had a great time coordinating the rehearsal and an even better time at the wedding!

http://www.orourkeandbirchflorist.com/

What a happy and beautiful bride!

The lovely Erica :)

This had to be the most beautiful church I have ever been to - Our Lady of Lourdes in Waterbury. Absolutely breathtaking!

The happy couple. I mean, really, how CUTE are they?!

This gorgeous (and delicious!) red velvet cake was made by Disorbo's Italian Bakery in Hamden.

My lovely assistant, Erica and I decorated this candy buffet. Kristina bought every type of candy one could possibly imagine! Guests started digging in even before dinner was served. Good thing the photographer got these shots early!

Thank you to Photo Expressions for providing us with the beautiful photos!

My Little Man at 6 Months

2012-02-04T16:36:00.000-05:00

Again, I have to give a HUGE thank you to Lynn Puzzo Photography for capturing my little guy's personality in these absolutely adorable photos! And the theme couldn't have been more perfect, as we were about to take a trip to visit family. I love it!

If you have a little one on the way, I would definitely suggest getting a photo package for his or her first year. I can't believe how much my son changes and I'm glad I have such wonderful documentation of his first year!

The Cost Misconception (and Why a Coordinator is Worth it)

2012-02-04T14:08:00.001-05:00

There is a HUGE misconception about the costs associated with a wedding planner/coordinator, thank you to the the movie, The Wedding Planner, where J. Lo caterers to a million dollar client, and t.v. shows like David Tutera's My Fair Wedding. Well guess what...my clients aren't millionaires and this isn't New York City. I'm in Hamden, CT. I do not charge tens of thousands of dollars (or, gasp...MORE!) for my services and I can actually SAVE (yes, SAVE!) you money. I hear all the time that "I cannot afford a wedding coordinator" but guess what - you can't afford NOT to have one. All of the time and money and energy you put into planning the wedding of your dreams, don't you want to make sure it all goes according to plan? Are you REALLY going to go to the church and/or venue that morning to set up? Wouldn't you rather be getting pampered with your girls on the most special day of your life? And do you REALLY want to be worried about if your florist and DJ have arrived at the venue yet? Do you want to be answering phone calls for vendors who might be lost? The answer is NO. And let's face it, that "wedding coordinator" that your venue promised you is NOT going to do all of that for you. Even if they claim to, they work for the VENUE and not YOU. They are going to do things the way the venue wants them to, which may not necessarily be the way YOU want them.

www.mikerossweddings.com

Unfortunately, I hear all too often after the fact things like "I should have hired a coordinator. My mom got stuck doing all the decorating!" or "The cake was a disaster and nothing at all like I wanted it!" or "My photographer left before the parent dances." Things like this happen, unfortunately, and having a professional there on your side can save or eliminate them from happening.

Do yourself a favor and at least do your homework. Don't just assume that a coordinator is not in your budget. Contact a few coordinators, see what they offer and what their price range is. Many will offer a free consultation but make sure that you are not just looking at the bottom line (the cost) but what is included in that cost. Compare apples to apples. Some will charge you by the hour, some offer various packages, and some take a percentage of your budget. I always customize services so the bride is never stuck paying for things she doesn't need and I try to accommodate any budget. This is why a consultation is necessary (and I never EVER charge for this time).

Happy planning!

Making Sense of a Decor Cluster

2012-01-22T19:21:00.000-05:00

Help! I have so may decor ideas but I don't know how to tie them all together!

I hear this a lot from my brides. They go online, search through magazines, and the newest craze, Pinterest, and find so many beautiful images and ideas that they love, but can't seem to pull it all together. Here's what you do:

1) Gather photos and ideas. Things will seem like a mess at this stage!

2) Sort through your collection into piles of "gotta have", "like", and "can take it or leave it".

3) Get rid of anything that's not "gotta have" to eliminate overkill.

4) Decide what it is exactly that you love about the "gotta haves" (i.e.: do you love the color, design, idea?).

5) Decide on a theme. A theme doesn't have to be so clear-cut (i.e.: beach, wine, autumn). Sometimes a theme can just be a color scheme. I put this as step 5 because sometimes a theme idea is not prominent in one's mind. One the bride figures out what she like, a theme can form.

6) Personalize these ideas for YOUR big day!

Kim & Cliff's Wedding

2012-01-17T16:29:00.000-05:00

I first met Kim & Cliff at a bridal show last year. A few months after meeting them, Kim called me to set up a consultation. We met and they booked soon after!

Their wedding ceremony was held at the Chapel at Bill Miller's Castle in Branford, followed by the reception in the main room there. CR Socials was there to coordinate the rehearsal and the ceremony, set up the favors, centerpieces and other decorations, meet and greet the vendors upon arrival and much more.

The beautiful flowers you see here were created by FloraBella Florist.

Thank you to Picture This Photography for providing us with these beautiful photos!

Kyle's 1st Christmas

2011-12-23T14:09:00.000-05:00

Thank you to LT Photography for taking Kyle's first holiday pictures! We love them!

Happy holidays!

Love,

Carisa, RJ, Kyle & Harley

Kim & Matt's Wedding

2011-12-21T19:04:00.000-05:00

I could tell that Kim was a class act from the moment I met her, which is why it was no surprise that her wedding was just as classy.

On a beautiful end-of-summer day, Kim looking gorgeous with her hair and makeup done by Dana Bartone, she and Matt got married at Eolia Mansion at Harkness Park. The ceremony took place in the pergola in the garden, followed by cocktail hour in the tented area off the back of the mansion. From there, the guests entered the mansion to enjoy a delicious dinner by Coastal Gourmet Catering. After dinner, the party got started by DJ Jason Kinney back in the tented area where the dance floor was packed! The stunning floral centerpieces, bouquets and boutonnieres were provided by Mystic Florist. These beautiful pictures were taken by Nikki Nicole Photography.

CR Socials was there to do the majority of the setting up for the wedding, coordinate with the vendors to make sure the night went smoothly, and clean up at the end of the night, as well as see the couple off in their formal send-off to their honeymoon.

Congratulations to the new Mr. & Mrs. Conti!

Receive or Leave?

2011-11-20T19:59:00.000-05:00

Receiving lines following a ceremony have been a tradition for years. The purpose is to allow the bride and groom (and their parents, and sometimes the bridal party) the opportunity to properly greet their guests and thank them for coming to the wedding. A receiving line can also be formed at the beginning of the reception, but I have not seen this at all recently.

If you are torn about having a receiving line at your wedding, consider the following to help you decide:

Pros:
- You get the greeting of your guests "out of the way", leaving you more time to party at the reception.
- It takes up time between the ceremony and reception if you have time to kill, which is typical if you are having a church ceremony. Not so much if the ceremony and reception are at the same place.
- You're guaranteed to get to say hello to just about everyone.

Cons:
- It can take up a lot of time and sometimes there is not that much time between the ceremony and the reception. Consider how long it takes to get to the reception and what time your cocktail hour is, etc.
- If your parents are older, they may not be able to stand long enough to make it to the end of the line.
- The gets towards the end of the line often get bored and antsy.

A few more things to consider:
- If you DO NOT plan to have a receiving line, make sure that you go directly into the limo or elsewhere immediately following the ceremony. If you stand around, people will come up to you and before you know it, a receiving line will have formed against your wishes.
- If you DO NOT plan to have a receiving line, make sure to do "table visits" at the reception. Go to each table and thank your guests for coming. The best time to do this is between courses (salad, pasta, entree, usually). Start with the older guests who tend to be a bit old fashioned and will be waiting for you to say hello. Your friends and younger guests may not care as much. They'll see you on the dance floor!
- Time of day and time of year. If you plan to take pictures outdoors during your cocktail hour, consider what time your ceremony will end and your reception will being. If its going to be dark out at 5:00, like it is in the fall and winter, you may not have time for a receiving line.
- If you have chatterboxes as your guests, you may not want to have a receiving line.
- Are many of your guests going to be your parents friends? It could be awkward if you don't know them and they approach you to congratulate you.

No matter what you decide, you MUST make an appoint to thank your guests somehow. They came out on your big day and likely will be giving a generous gift, so you want to make sure you properly show your appreciation.

$75 Towards Jewelry AND Wedding Planning

2011-11-08T18:35:00.001-05:00

Here is round 2 of our cross-promotin with lili lutu:

Describe your ideal piece of jewelry and email the description or a picture to carisa@crsocials.com. I'll put the descriptions and/or pictures on this blog on November 22nd and viewers can vote by commenting on the blog post.

Prize: $75 gift certificate for a custom piece from lili lutu and a $75 gift certificate to CR Socials Event Planning!

Submissions will be accepted until November 22nd and voting will be allowed until November 30th.

Am I Going in the Right Direction? A FREE Wedding Planning Analysis

2011-11-08T18:25:00.000-05:00

Are you in the midst of planning your wedding and wondering if you're going in the right direction? Or did you hit a road block and don't know where to turn? CR Socials Event Planning can help! Throughout the months of November and December I am offering a FREE wedding planning analysis when you schedule one of our complimentary consultations. I can tell you where to go next, the next vendor to book, how you can save money, and so much more! As an added bonus, if you book any of our services, get 10% off!

3 Months ALREADY?!?

2011-10-27T10:08:00.000-04:00

I can't believe my baby boy is 3 months old already (almost 4 now). I'm so glad that I decided to take advantage of the baby's first year package that Lynn Puzzo Photography offers! It's amazing how much my son has changed since he was born. He went from being a little peanut to a chunky monkey! I just love this kid to bits!

Is Cheaper Really Better?

2011-09-28T19:56:00.001-04:00

After the phone call I received and the one hour conversation I had this morning, I just had to share this...

A bride was referred to me by a venue owner at the beginning of the year. I had a long conversation with her on the phone about her wants and needs for her wedding. We seemed to have clicked and she told me she just wanted to check with her fiance about a date and time to meet with me in person. A few days went by and I hadn't heard from her so I decided to follow up with a phone call. When I spoke to her, she very politely told me that she found someone else to coordinate her wedding CHEAPER. I kindly thanked her and gave my best wishes.

Fast forward about nine months...

I received a call this morning from the same bride. We spent an hour on the phone again discussing her wants and needs for her wedding, which is two months away now, and how she literally had to fire the other coordinator that she hired because she wasn't doing what she said she would. Long story short, we are meeting next Tuesday where we will sign the contract and she will book me for her wedding.

The point of this blog post is that you get what you pay for. I say this all the time, and this goes for all vendors (but that's another topic for another post). CHEAPER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER. Period. While I don't find my services extremely high priced, I'm sure I'm not the "cheapest" either. I value the time that I put into coordinating a client's wedding. This could be anything from countless site visits to confirming those last minute details with every single vendor. Of course I try to be budget-friendly for everyone because I understand that we are in some tough times, but at the same time I won't underestimate the value in what I do. If you find someone else to coordinate your wedding at a fraction of what I charge, and you go on price alone, then for it. I hope you don't find yourself in the same situation as this particular bride, but if you do, I will be here with my professionalism and organizational skills to pick up the pieces.

Happy planning!
xo
Carisa

Holiday Weddings - Good or Bad?

2011-09-23T13:01:00.000-04:00

Think you had the greatest idea ever by planning your wedding on a holiday/holiday weekend? Consider these pros and cons before signing on the dotted line.

Pros:
- Out-of-state family and friends may already be in town.
- Family and friends can enjoy an extra day of relaxation after the wedding.
- Your venue may already be decorated accordingly, thus saving you money!
- This is a perfect way to gather friends and family that you don't get to see too often.

Cons:
- Some people already have plans for the holidays.
- Holiday season, particularly in December, can already be costly. A wedding will only add to that!
- Venues and vendors may charge more to work during a holiday.
- Mother Nature can have different plans for your wedding day (just think of all the snow we had this past winter!).

In the end, no matter when you choose to have your wedding, remember that the most important thing is that you will be marrying the person you want to spend your life with.

Happy planning!
xo
Carisa

Do You Know the Right Questions to Ask Your Vendors?

2011-09-23T12:47:00.000-04:00

Many of you don't know the "right" questions to ask your vendors when meeting with them. This could cause confusion and upset on the day of the wedding. Be clear as to exactly what you are getting from your vendors and make it known as to what is expected of them. Make sure they can oblige. Here are some questions to get you started:

Reception Site:
- How many weddings do you host per day? At one time?
- Is there a place where our ceremony can be held? If so, will you provide chairs? Is there an additional fee?
- Do you provide linens/centerpieces/plates, silverware, etc.?
- Do you provide catering? If so, is everything cooked on-site? Can we do a tasting?
- Do you have a minimum number of guests for the day/time that I would like?
- What is your maximum capacity?
- Do you have a bridal suite?
- Do you provide bartenders and all beverages (alcohol, soda, juice, etc.)?
- Can we take pictures on the grounds?
- Is there adequate parking for our number of guests?
- What kinds of decorations are allowed (candles, confetti, etc.)?

Photographer:
- Do you specialize in weddings?
- Do we receive an album with our package?
- Is there a time limit for coverage on the day of the wedding?
- Do I get all of the images on a high resolution DVD with rights to them?
- How many weddings have you photographed?
- Do you shoot candid/photojournalistic/posed?
- Will my photos be available for online viewing?
- How long after the wedding will my photos be ready?
- Will YOU be my photographer on the big day? Will you have an assistant or a second shooter?

DJ:
- Do you specialize in weddings?
- Will YOU be our DJ?
- Is there a time limit for coverage on the day of the wedding?
- Will you announce the bridal party for the formal introductions?
- Will you be as involved or uninvolved as we'd like you to be?

Videographer:
- Do you specialize in weddings?
- Are you able to work well with our photographer?
- Will YOU be our videographer?
- What is your shooting style?
- Will you provide us with a microphone for the ceremony?
- How long after the wedding will my video be ready?

Florist:
- Do you provide a breakdown of the cost of each item (bride's bouquet, groom's bouttenier, etc.)?
- Do you provide a breakdown of the flowers being used in each item (bride's bouquet, bridesmaids' bouquets, altar arrangements, etc.)?
- Can you provide items such as an aisle runner, candles, etc.?
- Do you charge a delivery fee? How far will you go and how many stops will you make (church, reception site, etc.)?
- Will you provide a "toss" bouquet?
- Will my flowers be fresh?
- Will you preserve my bouquet after the wedding or know someone that will?

Wedding Coordinator:
- Do you specialize in weddings? YES
- Is there a time limit for coverage on the day of the wedding? NO
- How many weddings do you work per day? ONE
- Do you attend every wedding personally? YES
- Can you arrange for vendors to work their prices into my budget? YES
- Do you attend and coordinate the ceremony rehearsal? YES
- Will you do the set up and decorating for me on the day of the wedding? How about the breakdown? YES
- Will you communicate with my vendors so that my day runs as smoothly as possible? YES
- Do you work alone or with an assistant? WITH AT LEAST ONE ASSISTANT
- Will you do a site visit if you have never been to my venue before? YES, EVEN IF I HAVE BEEN TO YOUR VENUE BEFORE, I USUALLY LIKE TO ATTEND A SITE VISIT WITH YOU

For all of your vendors, it is important to know the deposit amount, when the balance is due, and the cancelation policy.

Happy planning!
xo
Carisa

Skyla & Boris's Wedding

2011-09-15T16:02:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of meeting this couple when they moved to CT and decided to get married here! Skyla and Boris were actually a referral from my good friend Renee over at FloraBella Florist. They needed my help securing a few more of their vendors and or course, with coordinating their day. Every bride deserves to be treated like a princess on her wedding day!

So my friends Elisa at Imagine Hair Studio and Julianne at LashOut Couture took care of that!

They still needed someone to marry them, so I called upon my friend Wanda, the marriage officiant.

Of course my favorite part of setting up was the candy buffet!

Congratulations to Skyla and Boris! Thank you for letting me be a part of your special day. Wishing you many years of happiness together!!

Twins!

2011-08-22T21:44:00.000-04:00

Last year, I donated a gift certificate to a gala that my friend Fran McMullen of Fran McMullen Photography was helping put together. The winners of the gift certificate decided to put it towards the coordinating of a 50th birthday party for the husband and his twin brother. We got to work with some of our other friends for this event: FloraBella Florist created the centerpieces, Spice Catering filled the guest' bellies, Two Pour Guys Bartending kept the drinks flowing, and DJ Rico of LT Entertainment got the guests up and dancing the night away.

Thank you, Fran, for allowing up to be a part of such a wonderful event!!

8 Days Old

2011-08-12T17:43:00.000-04:00

As many of you know, I recently had my first child, Kyle Joseph, on July 5, 2011. I was so thrilled to be a new mom and wanted to start capturing my son's first moments immediately. I had contacted Lynn of Lynn Puzzo Photography months before having Kyle to set up a newborn session, something she is very well-known for photographing. Eight days after my baby was born, my husband and I went to Lynn's in-home studio and watched the magic happen...

She was so great with him! We watched as she put him in these adorable poses (I'll still never understand how she got him to stay the way she did) and use her props to accentuate the cuteness of my already adorable baby! Lynn was just so patient and gentle Kyle and these amazing photos are the result. W were so thrilled when we received the photos a few weeks later because Kyle had already changed so much in those first few weeks of his life. We were so glad that Lynn was able to capture him so early on and we will always have these photos to look back on. What an amazing experience we had!

Julie & Brent at Wesleyan University

2011-07-24T13:15:00.001-04:00

Julie and Brent first came to me in search of a unique venue to host their wedding. They were looking for something non-traditional and weren't sure where to begin. After doing some research for them, they settled on Beckham Hall at Wesleyan University. We were there to coordinate their big day so that they could be relieved of the stress that comes with hosting a wedding at this type of venue (the setup, greeting of vendors, etc.).

The Chapel at Wesleyan is wonderful for a non-denominational ceremony. Here is Brent at the altar waiting for his bride!

And here she comes!

The bride's cascading bouquet was created by Just For Your Floral Design Studio.

Julie and Brent stand at the altar and say their "I do's".

And seal them with a kiss...

We set up the reception in Beckham Hall at Wesleyan University. This is the second wedding that we coordinated here and I just love this room!

The "guest book" was a board with the trunk and branches of a tree on it. Guests were asked to leave their fingerprints and signatures next to the "leaves".

The cake table! The cake was a beautiful creation by DeLovelies Bakery in Middletown.

The gift table.

The centerpieces were white lanterns with flameless candles and purple rose petals. White rose petals graced the purple table runner underneath it.

In lieu of favors...

Congratulations to Julie and Brent! What an awesome couple they are!

Thank you to Mike Ross Photography for providing us with these wonderful photos!

Photographer: Mike Ross Photography
Videographer: Joseph Minasi Films Click here to see the wedding video highlights!
Cake: DeLovelies Bakery
Catering: Bon Appetit
Bartender: Two Pour Guys
Flowers: Just For Your Floral Design Studio
DJ: Family friend

Kate & Evan's Intimate Backyard BBQ

2011-07-23T21:39:00.000-04:00

Kate and Evan were married on June 25, 2011 in the intimate setting of their backyard. They were one of the most laid back couples that I have ever worked with - so much so that they didn't even want to tell people that the summer party they were inviting them to was actually their wedding! They surprised many of their guests with the exciting news when they arrived. We were happy to be a part of the celebration!

The simple centerpieces were created by FloraBella Florist: square clear cube vase arrangements of a single stem of gerbera daisies enclosed in the vase with river rocks and a touch of greenery. So elegant!

The groom and his best man await the bride.

And here she comes! How beautiful! And her nephew recorded music on the piano which she walked down the "aisle" to. Very personal and sentimental.

The bride's bouquet was a round hand tied bouquet loosely designed of 7 stems of assorted color gerbera daisies and a few stems of lily grass as an accent for greenery.

The champagne that awaited the guests after the "I do's".

So happy!

I love this dog! She literally posed for pictures with the bride and groom.

So sweet!

The wonderful spread of food was provided by Sweet Relief Catering. YUM! The guests anxiously dug in!

A friend of the bride provided these delicious cupcakes.

Congratulations to Kate & Evan! I wish you many years of health and happiness!

Flowers: FloraBella Florist
Catering: Sweet Relief Catering
Photography: Impulse Photography

Tara & Jeff's Luau Wedding

2011-07-23T19:18:00.001-04:00

Tara and Jeff came to me with over a year to go before their wedding date. They had a vision and just needed some help putting it all together, which I was happy to do. They had the church and the setting (Tara's brother's beautiful backyard in Wallingford) and the theme (a luau pig roast!). This made for a fun and laid back tented reception, complete with a tiki bar, lais, and a pig roast catered by Cast Iron Soul.

The bride's flowers, created by FloraBella Florist, consisted of a round, hand tied bouquet of 9 white dendrobium orchids and 7 pink nerine lilys with a touch of greenery. Beautiful!

Tara's hair and makeup was done the morning of the wedding by M Salon & Spa in Wallingford.

The handsome groom, Jeff!

The church was very modern looking. So pretty.

Man and wife!

So happy!

These were the favors that we placed at each seat. Beer koozies! How fun!

We did much of the set up the day before the wedding, which was pretty difficult because it was SO windy that day! The color scheme of the wedding was pink and gray, so those were the colors of the linens on the tables and many of the decorations. Check out the tiki torches in the background!

Each guest got "laid" at their seats :)

The full view of the tented event!

How cute are these? They are the guests' place cards. Umbrellas sticking out of a sandbox with labels displaying the guests' names.

These fun centerpieces were the bride's idea. She provided the tiki heads and FloraBella Florist did the rest!

So fun!

The delicious food, including the pig roast, was provided by Cast Iron Soul. This is only a fraction of the beautiful spread that they put out!

And of course, we can't forget about the chocolate fountain with all the fix 'ins!

Congratulations to Tara & Jeff! Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day!

Catering: Cast Iron Soul

DJ: Valentino Productions

Flowers: FloraBella Florist

Photography: Uniquely Yours Photography

4th of July Wedding Inspiration

2011-07-03T17:05:00.002-04:00

Maybe it's because I have the day off and the weather today is less than cooperative, but I was motivated this weekend to create this 4th of July inspiration board. Regardless of the reason, here it is:

I sought out images that were fit for a casual, outdoor 4th of July-themed wedding. Although the traditional red with navy blue is nice, I was more attracted to this lighter, almost teal-blue color grouped with the red and white. What do you think?

Outdoor Wedding Planning Tips

2011-06-15T21:57:00.000-04:00

An outdoor wedding can be beautiful this time of year, whether it's taking place at a private residence or a facility that offers grounds for a tented outdoor reception. I have already done a few of these this year and I just wanted to share a few tips with all of you thinking to go this route.

Grounds
Please please PLEASE be sure that the grounds are flat enough to accommodate a tent, table and chairs. The grounds might be big enough, but it also has to be flat so that your guests aren't rolling down hills in their seats. :) Another thing to consider is DJ equipment. I recently saw a speaker go down due to the wind and the fact that it wasn't on completely flat ground. Luckily, no one was hurt and there was no damage to the equipment.

Facilities
One thing you wouldn't have to worry about indoors is the restroom facilities. Be sure that the outdoor location has acceptable restrooms or at least a place that you could hook up a restroom trailer if needed.

Weather
Weather is always a factor when planning an outdoor event. A tent is ALWAYS recommended. If it's raining you can add the flaps to the sides to stay dry OR the flaps can be used to block the wind on a particularly breezy day. If it's hot and sunny, the tent provides shade for your guests. Plan ahead for all types of weather conditions.

Electricity
Planning to have a DJ or lighting in the tent? Check to make sure that there is an adequate power supply at your location. Plan on bringing extra extension cords just in case.

Layout
Although you still need to create a floor plan with most indoor facilities, it is particularly important to create one for an outdoor wedding. Because the event will be tented, you need to plan on EVERYTHING fitting under the tent. This doesn't just include tables and chairs , but also a dance floor, DJ table and equipment, buffet tables if you are planning on serving a buffet style meal, a bar, and cake and gift tables. Here is something that might help you:

*TENTS* To determine the appropriate size tent for your special event, calculate the total square footage that will be required. Follow these 5 easy steps:

	Step 1 Determine how many guests (total) are expected at your event. Step 2 Determine the type of party or event you are planning:

	*Type: Calculate:*

	Stand-Up Cocktail-Style 6 sq. ft. per person Cocktail-Style with some seating 8 sq. ft. per person Tea-Style Reception with some seating 8 sq. ft. per person Theater-Style, seated in Rows 8 sq. ft. per person Dinner, seated at 8' Banquet Tables 10 sq. ft. per person Dinner, seated at 5' Round Tables 12 sq. ft. per person

	Step 3 Consider additional uses of space at your party or event, such as:

	Additional Needs: Add:

	Dance Area* 5 sq. ft. per person Musicians/Band (3-piece) 100 sq. ft. [8' x 12' stage] Musicians/Band (5-piece) 250 sq. ft. [12' x 20' stage] Musicians/Band (7-piece) 300 sq. ft. [12' x 24' stage] Musicians/Band (12-piece) 450 sq. ft. [16' x 28' stage] DJ Area 200 sq. ft. Food Buffet Lines 100 sq. ft. per 50 guests Beverage Service Areas 50 sq. ft. each

	Calculating Dance Floor Size* Generally, never more than 50% of the people dance at any time. Each couple requires about nine square feet. If you have a party for 200 people (100 couples), 50 couples will be the maximum number dancing. You need 450 square feet of floor, which equals 28 pieces of 4' x 4' dance floor sections.

	*People Square Feet 4'x4' Pieces Size (Feet)* 100 225 16 16 x 16 50 337 24 16 x 24 200 450 28 16 x 28 250 562 36 16 x 36

	Step 5 Add your calculations from above to determine the total square footage. Match the total square footage to one of the following standard tent sizes:

	*Size sq. ft. Size sq. ft.* 10 x 20 200 40 x 40 1600 5 x 15 225 40 x 60 2400 20 x 20 400 60 x 60 3600 20 x 30 600 60 x 70 4200 20 x 40 800 60 x 80 4800 20 x 60 1200 60 x 90 5400 30 x 30 900 60 x 100 6000 35 x 40 Hex 1040 60 x 120 7200 30 x 40 1350 60 x 140 8400 30 x 50 1500 60 x 160 9600

	Depending on your event, you may want to add some extra space, or go to the next larger size than what is estimated, simply because extra room is better than not enough.

Cost

It's important to consider the cost of an outdoor wedding reception. Rental items can certainly add up! Just think of all the things you have to rent: tables, chairs, linens, plates, silverware, glasses, tent, dance floor, possibly a restroom trailer, and more. Many venues that offer their grounds for an outdoor reception charge a site fee and this usually isn't cheap. I've seen it range from $2,000 up to $8,000! And that doesn't even include food, beverages, or anything except the rental of the site.

This blog post isn't meant to sway anyone away from having an outdoor reception because it can be very beautiful and unique; however one planning to go this route should be educated enough to make an informed decision and know that it is more work than hosting your wedding at a typical indoor facility.

Happy planning!

My Gripe with Aisle Runners

2011-06-07T14:19:00.000-04:00

This isn't my normal type of blog topic, but I have to vent a little. I HATE HATE HATE aisle runners in a wedding. There's so much to consider that most don't even realize. When does it get rolled out? Who rolls it out? Who should walk on it? They're such a P.I.T.A. quite honestly and there are so many other creative ways to decorate or signify an aisle. I thought that I had one at my wedding, but I had to look at the pictures to see if I was the only one who walked on it or if the bridal party walked on it too. It appears that I was the only one and look how wrinkled it was! If I hadn't been barefoot because my shoe broke, I'm sure I would have tripped and fallen on my face. And why in God's name did I have an aisle runner outdoors? I'm thinking it was to avoid an inevitable fight with my mother. Had the "aisle" been on the grass I think it would have been completely pointless. Had I been wearing heels, they would have likely gone right through it.

If brides ask me about an aisle runner, even in a church, I advise against it. There's always confusion as to first, when it gets rolled out. Well that depends on who you want to walk on it: the entire bridal party or just the bride. Then there's the debate about who rolls it out. You can have your ushers (or wedding coordinator) roll it out before guests arrive if you want the bridal party to walk on it. In this case, guests should be escorted to their seats on the outer aisles of the church instead of the center aisle where the runner will be. Or you can have two groomsmen roll it out after the mothers walk down the aisle. Then the darn things never stay put and I usually end up having to pin them to the carpet (if the church is carpeted). If not, plan to bring the heavy duty industrial tape to keep the runner taped to the floor.

I've literally woken up in a panic over these things.

Bottom line: aisle runners are usually more hassle than they're worth. Let's work together to try to find a creative and more manageable alternative!

Joelle & Tom's Winter Wonderland Wedding

2011-04-29T18:56:00.002-04:00

It was such a pleasure working with Tom and Joelle to help make their wedding day special. They really are a special couple and I was happy to be there for them.

We started out the evening braving the weather, as it was one of the nights that CT had a snowstorm (January 7th). Fitting since the theme was a winter wonderland! But the weather didn't seem to phase Joelle or Tom one bit. When we arrived at the Water's Edge in Westbrook, Joelle was relaxing in the bridal suite with her 2 daughters, hair and makeup done and almost ready to go! Makeup done by the talented Airbrush by Adriana and the Beauty Bar.

We arrived with FloraBella Florist to deliver the bouquets, corsages, boutonnières, and some greenery to decorate the tables and the fireplace mantle. How gorgeous is this bouquet?!

When we arrived at the Water's Edge, we also had Joelle's favors to distribute (white boxes with blue ribbon, a label with Joelle & Tom's names and wedding date, and jingle bells and garland filled with Christina's Gourmet Cookie's!).

Then there was some decorating to be done! Silver and blue ornaments, garland, pine, fake snow, lights and candles adorned the fireplace mantle.

We also set up the centerpieces on the tables.

Love the way the room looks set up for the ceremony with the silver chivari chairs!

How cute are these placecards tied with blue ribbon and more jingle bells?

Guest book and pen, alongside CR Socials' Bridal Emergency Kit :)

The beautiful cake with the silver "W". Love the Willow Tree statue next to the cake.

Vinny Valentino of Valentino Productions was the fabulous DJ for the evening.

Tom is ready to go...

So is Joelle...

The new husband and wife!

It was snowing just enough to get these great shots!

Congratulations Joelle and Tom! Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness.

Awesome photos provided by Studio 1923.