Favor Your Guests

They will spend the day with you, they take your picture, they will clap and clink their glasses, they will talk about what a beautiful event you had. They are your guests.

You do a lot to plan your Big Day, but your guests often do a lot to attend. They may travel a distance, get hotel rooms or babysitters, buy you a present. Many have attended a Shower or even an engagement party. You have bribed them to attend with food and drinks, but you can do just a little extra.

Everyone has been to a wedding where the couple sets out a small handful of Jordan almonds wrapped in tulle and tied with a bow. I have asked several people what the best and worst guest favors they have seen at weddings are; many people could not remember most of the favors they have received at all. Does this mean that you should skip the tradition of giving out favors entirely? No. Again, the people attending your wedding have done plenty just by being there. With that in mind here are some ideas for what you can (and cannot) do for guest favors.

Let’s cover the “don’ts” before we get to the fun stuff. Generosity, by nature, shouldn’t have regulations, but you want to make sure what you do is worth it. The average spent on guest favors is $3 per person. This can be spent on something kitschy from the likes of Oriental Trading that people will throw away before they even get home; or candy, that will take you longer to put in to little packs than it will for them to eat. OR this can be spent on something personal to you or your guests that they will remember and appreciate.

Try to make your favor relative to your wedding: play off your theme, venue, or even the season. For example: if you are getting married at a vineyard or using cork in your wedding décor (popular on Pinterest) you could give decorative wine stoppers to your guests. (Averaging $3/per from wedding suppliers like Anne’s Bridal Bargains or WeddingStar.) If you are having a Christmas wedding you could give personalized Christmas ornaments, perhaps little picture frames with an engagement photo.

We all know how much I love a “trend.” What is popular currently, especially within the green wedding movement, are plant-able or edible favors. Here are some of my favorite ideas by season.
Spring: Seed packs or Seedlings
Summer: S’more Kits
Fall: Caramel Apples
Winter: Hot Cocoa Mixes

I mentioned seeds or seedlings as favors. Linda Maggert, our fearless leader and owner of One of a Kind Events, as well as an incredibly experienced florist and FTD Master Designer, recommends using seeds that germinate quickly: wildflower or annual plant seeds. She says, “Make sure to buy seeds from a quality provider and that they are not too old, then package them in creative ways for your guests.” If you choose to give seedlings, Linda suggests buying extras since some may not survive the transplanting process into the containers in which you will display them. And most importantly, “Make sure you have someone to take care of the plants the week of the wedding, as you will have other things that occupy your mind that week, and watering plants may not be at the top of your list!” All in all, they do sound like a little bit of extra work, but they are great for outdoor weddings and brides who love DIY projects. This would also be a fun task to do with your parents and/or future in-laws who have a green thumb. They will not be a favor that guests easily forget, but some guests may forget to take them, so have someone in your wedding party to take them home and keep them alive.

One of the best options is to give a charitable gift in honor of your wedding. Many couples are choosing to donate to a special charity or non-profit. Instead of leaving something on each place setting for your guests to take home, you could place a note card on each table, or a note in the program, that, in lieu of favors, you have chosen to make a donation to “Such and Such Charity.” Not only will your money be going to a great cause, but it is also budget friendly. No one needs to know the amount you donated, and it can be more or less that the average $3 per guest that you may have spent on a more traditional favor.

 Another great part of this deal, if you have booked with One of a Kind Events and show us your Lending a Hand tag, we will donate a portion of your planning package and a percentage of your floral package, plus we will match your donation (to a certain amount) when you choose a charity from their list. Linda Maggert (pictured above at far right) feels, “We are in the business of celebrating love and what better way to celebrate than to ‘spread the love around!’” Visit www.lendingahand.net to get all the information, and a list of charities.

These are several fun ideas for an extra way to say “Thank you!” to your guests; but don’t let this part of the wedding stress you out, it truly is the thought that counts.

Fort Wayne Spotlight: All Occasion Party Rentals

 I recently had the opportunity to visit All Occasion Party Rentals. Linens, centerpieces, lighting, chairs, tableware, serving equipment, accessories, everything is available for rent.  I spoke with Kelli Kline, who has worked at All Occasion for most of its 28 years of operation, and I was so impressed with her knowledge of Fort Wayne trends, venues, and vendors that I would recommend that ALL of my brides visit this store and check out their large design showroom when they start planning their Big Day.

The “shabby chic” look is still going strong for local weddings. Think distressed wood, things appearing homemade or vintage, and textiles like burlap. (Personally, I despise burlap; it itches, it never lays right, and it SMELLS! But luckily, linen companies have caught on and have created a synthetic burlap material that has all of the benefits without those icky side effects.)

 Trend reports for upcoming seasons are predicting that weddings will have a return to elegance; more formality and pomp, with spotlights on shades like blush pink and ivory. All Occasion Party Rentals has their finger on the pulse, with these trends on display in their showroom, as well as currently popular bold colors like royal blue and emerald, and my very favorite look, black and white.

We all know that budgets are still tight these days. Kline has several ideas for creating great events for less. If you can’t afford to decorate your entire event space they way it looks on the pages you have pulled out of magazines or “pinned” online, try creating a “focal point” in the room. For the biggest effect, use the head table, which is where eyes will be for most of the night. Up-lighting can create a great ambiance, but the cost can add up to light an entire ballroom, so instead you can focus on the area behind and around your head table. Creating a stunning backdrop with draping, lights, or even something more out of the box like lanterns, will add that wow factor you are looking for.

Kline explained that the single biggest way you can create a dramatic look at your event is with LINENS! (I couldn’t agree more!) Walking in to a room full of vibrant, coordinating table linens has a huge impact on the eye. If you don’t have room in the budget for fancy table cloths on every table, consider using table runners and save the standout linens for your head table. Chairs also can add to your overall look, but they can certainly add up in cost. Throwing a chair cover and tie on the existing chairs will cost less than a chivari chair, but for that look there is no substitute.

To create an event like the ones everyone is ogling on Pinterest, Kelli insists that you should have your event outdoors. Renting a tent will ensure that weather won’t be a deterrent. Tents provide a great blank slate for decorating and themes; there is no bold ballroom carpet to coordinate with, or ugly chandeliers to distract from your décor. It may cost more up front than a traditional location, but you can save money on your food and drinks by being able to shop around, as opposed to being locked in to your venue menu. (Go ahead, say it out loud, “venue menu!”)

Truly, what sets All Occasion apart is their service; Kline said, “We help them come up with the overall look they want to achieve.” They are primarily a rental company, but can also be hired as full service decorators. However, as a cost saving consideration, they can teach you how to do your own set up. (Obvious side note: this is a great reason to hire a planner with One of a Kind Events – you’ll never have to worry about any set up between having your hair done and getting in your dress. Besides, who wants to risk a nail on their wedding day.)

Look for both All Occasion Party Rentals and One of a Kind Events at the upcoming Fort Wayne Bridal Extravaganza at the Grand Wayne Convention Center on Sunday, February 24^th .

http://www.grandwayne.com/calendar/index.php

Visit All Occasion Party Rentals online at: http://www.alloccasionpartyrentals.com/index.html

And visit our site at: http://www.oneofakindevents.org/

 

All the best!Jori Nye
Event Designer, One of a Kind Events

2013 Trends: Color



The first place brides start when planning their wedding is often with color. There is no need to plan your big day based on what is currently popular, but choosing a trendy color will increase the number of different  products that are available in that shade. Two years ago, “mint” was thought of as an ice cream flavor, not a fashion statement. Now, Pinterest is claiming that mint green is the single most searched wedding color on their site, so manufacturers and stylists are making sure that they have plenty of options available for brides in this trendy tint.

Pantone 2013 Wedding Colors



Alfred Angelo

 Pantone is showing that jewel tones are also going strong:  Emerald Green, Monaco Blue, and a bright Poppy Red. Don’t forget, these colors aren’t just for flowers and linens any more. Cakes are more colorful, invitations are intense, and even bridal dresses are brilliant!

If you aren’t comfortable with bold color statements, add a touch here and there to emphasize your theme. Have your white bouquet wrapped with a colored ribbon, or add a couple of colorful flowers to the bridesmaids’ flowers. Pick napkins and a chair sash in matching colors.



Board from Sherika De Livera, Dubai, via Pinterest

A trend dominating both the fashion and wedding scenes is black and white. My personal favorite! You can do so many things with this combination. Black and white is easy to make elegant with a damask or chevron pattern, or make it more playful with polka dots. One of the best things about using black and white is that many venues offer white and/or black linens. Using the linens that are on-site will save you the cost of ordering-in all of your linens.

To keep guests from feeling like you’re trying to send them to the Twilight Zone, pair  with another color to make it pop. A very on-trend option: metallic! Think black and white with touches of gold: gold table runners, gold candles and embellishments on the centerpieces, gold picture frames for décor, so glamorous!

These are the top color trends for 2013, but – as always – you should choose what you like best!



Log-In to Your Wedding

Engagement announcements, save-the-dates, invitations, RSVPs…the amount of communication required for a wedding can seem overwhelming. Of course, not every couple sends out formal announcements, or even a save-the-date these days, but there is another way to ensure that all of your guests receive all of your information. And best of all, it doesn't have to cost you anything!

Many websites offer free hosting for wedding pages, and incredibly user-friendly formats and templates. I used mywedding.com to host my personal wedding page, and even made one for the couple whose wedding I was in recently. This site, as with most, will let you choose from a variety of themes and colors, surely one to fit your own event. WeddingWire.com has designs from a number of companies including Wedding Paper Divas, Vera Wang, Magnet Street, David’s Bridal, and even Bed Bath & Beyond. The best thing I found with this website is that you can also order invitations that coordinate with the theme you choose.  The Knot also offers free websites and is always a favorite for their planning tools and resources.

How do I get my website out to my guests?
I recommend creating a website after the engagement as soon as you start seriously planning. If you send out save-the-dates this would be a great time to include a blurb as simple as “Please visit our website at  www.website.com/brideandgroom for  more information.” If your first mailing is your invitation, it’s not too late to include the site. You can put it on a separate card, or on the very bottom of your invitation, though this can take a little away from the feeling of formality.

What to include on my website?
The information you can post is only limited by your imagination. Most websites allow you to publish photos and even encourage sharing the story of your engagement. (I was proposed to in a parking lot, so it’s safe to say I left that off my page.) This is a great time to show off those engagement pictures that you had taken. You can have a tab for accommodations if you are planning on having any out-of-town guests, and even create an easy link to the websites of the hotels. Save another tab for the addresses and directions to the wedding day events; this is another that can have a link to MapQuest or Google Maps. Something you will want to decide is if you plan on having pre-stamped RSVP envelopes in your invitations. Most wedding websites allow an option to collect RSVPs online. It’s as easy for your guests as logging in and clicking a box, you can even include meal choices, and it will save you the expense of printing the RSVPs, adding extra postage, and trying to keep track of those little buggers in the mail. One extra great advantage of a website is that it’s a place for you to publish where you are registered. Please do not write this on your invitations! Invites are meant to request the pleasure of your GUESTS, not to solicit swag. A tab on your website, with a link to any stores that offer online access to your gift registry, is much more appropriate. Other fun ideas are including pictures of your wedding party with a short ditty about their relation to you, and information about anything fun happening in the area over the weekend for out-of-town guests (i.e. Friday night Tin Caps game).

What should I avoid?
Please be careful posting your website on any form of social media. If you post the site on Facebook, for instance, some well-intentioned “friend” may think that serves as an invitation for them to attend. Some host sites do allow you to create a password that you can send out to your guests with the web address. Know your audience. For example, if you are sending an invitation to Great Aunt Margaret, who you know is less than “computer literate,” include any necessary information in the invite itself, don’t expect her to figure out how to turn that computer on. Now, I know many grandparents who now have Facebook profiles, but just be aware of any guests who would prefer the distribution of information the good old-fashioned way.

 

As with all of my recommendations for your Big Day, have FUN and go ahead and personalize, personalize, personalize!

 

Jori Nye
Event Designer
One of a Kind Events

Allow me to introduce myself...

Hello all! Let me introduce myself; my name is Jori Nye, and I am proud to be the newest Event Designer with One of a Kind Events!

I became a Certified Wedding Planner in 2009 through the Wedding Planning Institute, and spent the last few years doing weddings in  coastal North Carolina before moving to Fort Wayne in 2012.   I have been an active member of the Association of Bridal Consultants, and participated in Local Area Networking
and Women in Business Networking Groups.

I am in love with my husband, my 2 year-old son, Kyle, and weddings! My very favorite thing about the wedding industry is that it is constantly changing and evolving.New color combinations are becoming popular, brides are taking risks, and sites like Pinterest have turned us all into DIY-ers. New trends are becoming tradition, while old traditions are being  revitalized.

There are so many exciting new things on the horizon for 2013 and I look forward to blogging about them all! I am also excited to begin spotlighting local vendors so that we can all get to know what the best of the Fort Wayne bridal scene has to offer.

Keep up with our Pinterest page at http://pinterest.com/okefortwayne/

and check out our website at http://www.oneofakindevents.org/

 

Nice to meet you!
Jori Nye