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It’s all About the Planning When it Comes to Planning a Wedding!

February 16, 2012 By Comments

 

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Marriage is about a lifetime of love and commitment and weddings are a special day meant to be exciting and filled with love and enjoyment. So once the proposal has been accepted and celebrated, the fun begins! Now it’s all about the planning. But don’t be fooled, planning a wedding can be extremely hectic, time consuming and stressful.

Planning a wedding is something most brides (and some grooms) have been thinking and dreaming of for most of their lives. But often, what we imagine and dream about doesn’t translate to the actual experience. Things can get pretty crazy, pretty fast when planning a wedding. But don’t panic, there are lots of ways to preserve your good sense and rationality.

It is imperative to establish, early on, a plan and checklist that will help you to define and accomplish the undertakings required to plan a successful wedding.

Planning a Wedding – Let’s Get Started!

Create the Budget – First and foremost set the budget, outlining the maximum amount you can and want to spend. Once the budget is set be sure to follow it! You don’t want to spend your time as newlyweds agonizing about all the debt.

Determine the Wedding Date – Choose the date the works best for the couple, taking into consideration symbolism, significant dates, seasons and prices. Be sure to allow enough time for the actual planning and organizing of the celebration.

Decide on the Size of the Wedding – The style of wedding will help determine the size of the wedding which must be decided before a venue can be secured. The couple should think through how they see their wedding day. How many can the budget support and will it be a large or small event are key factors.

Choose the Wedding Venue – Now the couple starts searching out venues and researches the per person costs while ensuring the venue is able to accommodate their ideal number of guests. When considering, keep in mind the wedding style and location. Remember, the budget is very important because the greater the budget, the more money you have to be dedicated to the venue.

Decide on the Wedding Party – The wedding party should match the budget, style and size of the wedding that is being planned. Life is busy and it’s key to decide and choose the wedding party early on and let the chosen know. Select the suitable mix of a fun, reliable and responsible group of attendants that will ensure the wedding day is effortless and a great time is had by all.

Find and Confirm the Officiator – The person selected to perform the ceremony has a major impact on the tone and feel of the service. So finding and booking the best person to marry the happy couple is an essential decision. Choose the person that you are sure will execute the type of ceremony you are visualizing.

Pick Wedding Colors/Themes – The event color scheme helps to set the mood and ambiance and is has a large influence on the design and style of the wedding. It also will help to establish some of the other areas such as invitations and bridal party attire. Themed weddings are not imperative, however it is very in-style for many brides and grooms.

Create The Guest List – When planning your wedding, it is never too early in the process to start putting together the guest list. Once you have decided on the wedding location and the number of guests that fit into the budget, you are ready to start creating the guest list. One would think that compiling the wedding guest list is one of the most fun parts of the wedding planning, but don’t be fooled. It can be one of the hardest. You have an unbelievable amount of things pulling you in many directions, budget, wedding size, venue capacities and parental opinions to name a few. So get started early.

Select the Wedding Wardrobe – For the bride, it’s all about the dress. There are countless wedding dress styles and designs that are appropriate for all tastes and budgets, from designer to gently worn. Equally important is what the groom and wedding party will be wearing. Every bride is different, some will coordinate the wardrobe with the wedding colors and theme and some won’t. Don’t forget about the ever important accessories and factor them into your wardrobe budget.

Every wedding is different but they all require attention to so very many details. So many in fact that they can’t all be covered in one blog. Be sure to check us out tomorrow for more wedding planning musts!

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Cheap Birthday Party Ideas – A Whole Bunch of Affordable Fun!

January 31, 2012 By Comments
cartoon bunny with a birthday cake

Photo courtesy of Kid’s Birthday Parties

There’s nothing more fun than planning and throwing a kid’s birthday party. Who says you have to take out a loan just to celebrate that special day. There are lots of  cheap birthday party ideas for kids and lots of ways to throw an enjoyable birthday party without breaking the bank.

Is it just me or does it seem birthday parties are getting more costly, more excessive and way more wasteful as each year passes and each party is planned. As parents, we all want to throw exactly the “happening” party our kids are wanting and wishing for. Lots of us have thrown those giant parties filled with all the birthday party bells and whistles, big ticket entertainers, pricy decorations, expensive food and other costly fun. But the sky is not the limit and the sooner we (and our kids) come to grips with that, the better. In my house, gone are the days when a great birthday party equals spending a fortune.

Cheap Birthday Party Ideas – The Dollar and Sense of It All!

There are lots of ways to organize and host a fun and entertaining birthday party without having to spend buckets of money.

Budget – The first step is to figure how much you can spend on the party. Once you nail down the figure, stick to it. A great tip is to look at and set the budget in advance. Once you have pinpointed the budget start the planning and buying process right away. By doing this, by the time the actual party arrives you will have already have done the bulk of the work and paid for the majority of it. Really there are tons of cheap kids birthday party ideas that will help plan a great party.

Guest List – The most important fact to remember when compiling the guest list is the birthday party is for your child, so the invited guests should be the kids. Plus, there should be a cap on the number of kids invited. It is not necessary to invite the entire neighborhood, class, family or the parents work friends. Find the right number for you (and your budget) and stick to it.

Invitations – Remember the day when you’d just go and buy invitations, fill them out, send them off and you’d be done. Of course you can still go that route or any economical route that works for you. Including making calls to as well as emailing the information to the parents. When looking to stay on budget, your guest list will command the size of your party. Talk with the birthday kid, get their input and get them involved. And then be creative cutting, drawing, pasting or downloading invitations, using pictures, card stock, construction paper or various crafts. This is the perfect opportunity to let the birthday kid’s uniqueness shine. One of the best ways I know to send out cheap birthday party invitations is by using evite.com. Not only is evite.com one of the most inexpensive ways to invite guests, your guests can RSVP online. And it’s all free.

Location – It really makes no difference where the party is held, the kids will have fun wherever the location is. Of course, the cheapest place to hold a birthday party is to host the celebration right at home. By hosting the party at home, you eliminate all those additional costs that come up when renting a venue. By hosting the party at home you can literally save hundreds of dollars! However, there are lots of reasons why you may not be able to have the party at home. And in those cases, there are a lot of free or less expensive locations that will fit into your birthday party budget. Depending on the time of year, there are some great venues you can book for a nominal fee. What about holding it at a community play and picnic area, fast food area, movie theater, playground, rec center or gym, a friend’s backyard, church hall, daycare center, fire department private room or park playground? Many of these options are free or only charge a minor refundable deposit, so they will fit perfectly into your budget.

Years ago, when planning my eleven year old nephew’s birthday party, we asked him where he wanted to have it and his first and only choice was to have it at a local park. We decorated, had barbeque, played baseball and everybody there, kids and adults alike, had a blast. And this could easily have been called a cheap birthday party.

Cheap Birthday Party Ideas – You’ve Got Them There…Now What!?

Decorations – When trying to save money on a kid’s birthday party a great place to save money is the decorations. This is an area where you definitely don’t have to go overboard. You’ll want the decorations to be connected with the location and theme (if you have one). If you are going with a theme you can easily purchase a few crucial items and match those items by color coordinating additional cheap birthday party decorations and tableware that you can simply reuse at other celebrations. If you buy a new set of decorations for every party you host you will quickly break the budget each and every time. Why not buy a bright tablecloth and then just use regular paper plates and cups? Hit the dollar store to find birthday banners and signs, streamers, balloons, ribbons and probably every other party decoration you will need. Remember, saving money is the name of this game.

Food – Keep in mind in this blog we are talking about saving money, not time and energy. And the location, age range and time of year will always dictate the type of birthday party food you have on hand. So with that in mind, you’ll want to purchase and prepare the food yourself. Look for birthday party food that kids will love and that will be quick, easy and cheap. Go for quality but economical items and buy in bulk and on sale items along with some appropriate pre-made dishes. And why not make some of the food prep part of the party? What kid doesn’t like to make their own food, decorate their own pizza, cookies, ice cream sundae or even sandwiches.

When it comes to birthday cake and saving money, no store or bakery buying here, it’s all about making the cake yourself. I promise you the kids will not know (or care) whether the cake was homemade or bakery bought. Really, it’s cake and the kids will love it either way. Or what about preparing some birthday cupcakes so each kid gets their own along with the fixings. Make the cupcakes part of the party activities and have the guests decorate them after lunch. In a word…delicious!

Games/Activities – All you need is a bit of imagination and a conversation. Speak with the birthday boy/girl and find out the kind of games and activities they want as part of their party. There are so many inexpensive (as well as free) ideas out there that you won’t even have to break the budget. Don’t forget about those unforgettable favorites; musical chairs, pin the tail on the donkey, red light-green light and a scavenger hunt. And what about baseball, flag football or a  water balloon fight? Why not set up an arts and crafts table or the wrap the mummy game. All you need are some eager kids and a whole bunch of toilet paper. And my absolute (absolute!) favorite, the pinata game. Buy cheap birthday party supplies in bulk and let the kids go, it is a great way to use up some of that extra kid energy.

Goody Bags – This is where your creatively, open mindedness and resourcefulness will come in handy. Again when looking for candy, toys and prizes look for sales and buy cheap birthday party favors in bulk. Keep in mind there is a difference big difference between inferior and inexpensive. So be sure to look for items that are rich in quality but low in price or on sale. When looking for easy on the purse items, don’t forget about the Dollar Store, they have a surprising amount of great and budget conscious goodies. One mother had a terrific idea, she took a picture of each kid at the party and then presented the picture to the kid in their goodie bag. A great and cheap birthday party favor as well as a cool memory of the celebration.

While there are a lot of expensive party ideas available, there is an equal amount of cheap birthday party ideas too. Take some time to do a bit of research and you will be pleasantly surprised by what you will find and where you can save money; while at the same time throw a great celebration. Remember, birthday parties are not all about the spending, they are all about the fun and joy.

 

 

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Event and Party Planning Tips – You Want Me to Plan a Party?!

November 23, 2011 By Comments

Photo courtesy of mag3737 on flickr

Here’s the problem and first possible set back of the day. You are not a party or event planner. That’s a fact. But somehow you have been handed, okay assigned, the task of planning your next company event. YIKES! Don’t panic!

While lots of companies have a point person who is responsible for all things company party and event planning related, lots of companies do not. Including yours. So at times, like it or not, others are assigned the task of planning company parties, meetings and events.

Event and Party Planning Tips – Help!

I think most of us will agree that company events are very important. But that’s actually more important is successful company events. Success says it all, right! So keeping that in mind, here are some tips to get you started on the right path.

Budget – Set and define the budget. Events are a lot of work and can end up being very pricey. Prior to the start of any planning, it is key to set and ultimately to stick to your budget. Know what you have to spend and what your absolute bottom line is. It is essential that not only you, but every member of your team knows how much can be spent on any single part of the event. There are tons of budget event templates out there that can help you in planning the budget as well as sticking to it.

Blue Print – Set some goals. What is the reason for the event? Who are you planning the event for? Who will be invited and who will be participating? What is the ultimate goal for the event? By answering these questions you will be able to come up with the perfect approach and then start to plan. Having an event blue print affords you the opportunity to consider all the various elements and features as well as the ins and outs that are important for your event.

Event Checklist – I’m sure you’ve already read all of my previous blogs so you already know that I am a huge (HUGE) fan of using event checklists. An event checklist, coupled with your attention to detail, provides a great way of staying on top of all event planning related issues. A checklist is your one stop location where you can find all your pertinent, applicable and important event information, including a to-do list with due by dates. In the long run, this is a very useful tool for you and your team during the planning stages and later when referring back to dissect what went wrong and what went so right.

Event and party planning doesn’t have to be hard work but you definitely have to work hard. So take advantage of all the online help out there and don’t panic. Planning an event is a lot of fun and you really will enjoy the process.

 

 

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Special Event Planning – Making an Impression

November 16, 2011 By Comments

Photo courtesy of JETfri on flickr

So everyone voted and it’s been decided that a fundraiser/launch/neighborhood party is in order. And the committee/boss/neighbors have voted you to head things up. It’s very exciting and you just know you’re going to do an amazing job of planning and executing and ensuring the event is a success. No run of the mill event for you! You know you want to make it special, exceptional, amazing!! You`re just not sure how.

There are so many ways you can make your community event stand out, in the minds of attendees, the press and in your community. Even without a big budget all it takes is a little creativity and the willingness to work hard.

Special Event Planning – Why Bother?

A Special Event is a onetime event such as a grand opening, product launch, concert or even a spotlight on a neighborhood. It can bring together a community, publicize a new product, business or service or create awareness about a charity or local neighborhood.

Special Event Planning – Making Your Event a Success

Even though your experience in planning is limited, you know you can do an amazing job. Don`t worry about your lack of experience because we’ve got a few tips to help make your event a HUGE success.

First and foremost, plan ahead. When possible, try to ensure you have scheduled ample time to plan your event. Ideally, this allows you the time to plan the event, create a publicity plan, recruit volunteers, organize and execute the plan to achieve maximum success.

Special Event Planning – The Success is in the Details

The most important thing to know before you start planning is your budget! Whether big or small, it is crucial that you stick to your budget. There are always ways of working around your limitations (volunteers, donations, bartering) but if you end spending too much money, the success of your event is negligible.

Make a list and check it twice, and then check it again. A checklist will help you make sure that nothing is missed. It should include the event date, publicity, decor, entertainment, food, volunteers and staff, logistics, suppliers and more. I believe in creating your checklist and working backwards from your event date. This will help ensure you don`t miss any important details, bookings or confirmation dates.

If you can`t afford a lot of paid staff, consider volunteers. Some of the best events I have participated in (planning and attending) have been volunteer driven. Often, volunteers are just as dedicated, if not more so, than paid staff. So if you require a larger team than what is currently available to you, consider volunteers. Be sure to look at your local high schools. Many communities require students to acquire a minimum amount of volunteer hours before graduation.

Special Event Planning – Publicity

Publicity, before, during and after your event, can help create success. It can increase attendance and help raise awareness, both before and after your event.

Write a press release; they’re a great way of connecting with the local press and creating awareness of the event. Include the date of the event, the purpose and any contact information. In addition to writing a press release prior to the event, you should follow up with one after the event has taken place. You can talk about attendance, prize winners, entertainment and the success of the event (money raised, awareness and follow up info).

Be sure to invite the local press to attend the event. Offer free tickets (if it is a paid event) and even have a press kit available. A press kit is easy to compile, include information about the organization, the event and be sure to include your contact information! (That way, if they have questions, it’s easy for them to contact the correct person).

Don’t be intimated when Special Event Planning! Remember to be organized, creative and willing to ask for help. A strong committee, great organizational skills and a wonderful volunteer corps will help you create an event to remember!

 

 

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