Special Event Design

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Special Event Design

• Weddings

Virginia Stipp Lawrence, MHM
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Well the semester has ended

• Where are you now?
• How do you feel going in to your presentation?

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The Wedding

• Well, first it starts with the Yes and then the
  floodgates open!
• Bride always goes and picks up the book
• Bride consults the planner
• What should you say?
• Goals and Objectives (lets back up a minute)
• Two people getting married
• Experience of the wedding
• Two families coming together (could be good or
  bad)
• Meeting social expectations, mores, norms,
  values, beliefs, etc, etc
• Satisfying needs of bride, groom, parents

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Whose wedding is it?

• IT IS THE BRIDES! NOT YOURS!
• HOWEVER, IT IS NOT THAT EASY!!!!
• Sometimes the Mother, Father, Mother-in-Law or
  Other gets very involved
• Sometimes the vision is wait out of bounds
• Bride might not be physically present when
  decisions are being made (i.e. college student)
• Bride might have shopped around and talked to
  vendors
• Second weddings
• Vow Renewals
• Okay, okay, okay so lets calm down and go
  through some steps

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Type of Celebration

• Ceremony
• Religion or Secular- http//66.34.224.169/index.ph
  p?pagewedding-2
• Style
• Ultraformal
• Formal
• Semiformal
• All should be indicated to guests
• All should follow etiquette rules
• Location
• Officiants
• Themes

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• http//www.prestonbailey.com/PORT-celebrities.htm

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• Trends
• Table Cards
• Live Stations
• Large Tables
• DJ vs. Band
• Entertainment is really what completes your
  wedding. The importance of music is crucial to
  making your wedding a success. Music is the
  heartbeat of your wedding. It creates a mood, and
  builds energy to your special day. You will
  always look back at your wedding, remember your
  first dance and the special song you selected,
  and relive how it made you feel.
• Buffet Décor
• Foods (raw, chocolate, candy, comfort)
• Creative containers
• Theme beverages
• Bars host, cash
• Dance Lessons

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Trends-2007

• BOLD JEWEL TONESTaking a departure from the
  pervasive pastel blue and chocolate brown that
  were so popular in 2006, jewel tones are making a
  strong representation this year. Bold colors such
  as deep oranges, gold, rich purples, and reds are
  being paired to set a variety of moods. Try using
  burnt orange, chocolate browns and sky blue for a
  more modern appeal or deeper rich tones such as
  plum, red or gold for a more regal approach the
  possibilities are endless.
• COUTURE FLORAL DESIGNSThe 2006/2007 floral
  trends are no different, but add a little glamour
  and excitement to bouquets and arrangements.
  Bouquets will be more compacted in size and very
  couture, using exquisite types of flowers and
  gorgeously detailed accents such as jewel insets
  and crystals. Instead of conforming to identical
  floral arrangements on each table, some brides
  are using sleek glass bowls, thin cylinders in
  varying heights, or grouping an assortment of low
  centerpieces for a more dynamic and streamlined
  look.
• CHIC AND ULTRA-FEMININE GOWNSAs seen on the
  runway, sleek and feminine details are making a
  big impact. Brides are adding embellishments to
  the back of their dresses, including lace-backed
  dresses, or v-back dresses. You will also see the
  embellished belts, black accents, oversized
  floral details and off the shoulder looks. 
• WEDDING JEWELRYWhile rings are certainly one of
  the most important aspects of your wedding
  jewelry, a bride also must give consideration to
  other pieces that shell be wearing. The look in
  wedding jewelry is now bold. Cushion- and
  Asscher-cut diamonds all the rage in the 1920s
  are currently gracing the hands of todays
  bride. Other pieces such as chandelier earrings
  evoke a glamorous, Art-deco look cuff bracelets
  of silver and diamonds are currently flashing on
  the runways.
• DESTINATION WEDDINGSDestination weddings are
  generally on the rise, but we will continue to
  see a particular trend of destination weddings in
  Italy. There is a seemingly endless list of
  perfect spots for getting married in Italy The
  Tuscan countryside is breathtakingly beautiful,
  the great historical and artistic cities of
  Florence and Siena are always within arms reach,
  and some of the finest castles and palaces are
  located right in the heart of Rome. 
• DECADENT DESSERT BUFFETSThough the wedding cake
  has always played a significant role in the
  classic wedding, couples are creating dessert
  tables (referred to as Viennese tables) stocked
  with everything from Key lime pie to mousses and
  even chocolate fondue.

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Florals-How to pick them

• Color, Venue and Season Come Into PlayThe Bride
  and Bloom spoke with floral designer Katie
  Martin, owner of Elegance Simplicity in
  Washington, D.C., to find out what her clients
  are choosing for 2007 (and 2008!).Color Me
  BeautifulWhat kind of flowers will you choose
  for your wedding? Lots of influences come into
  play. It all depends on the brides style, says
  floral designer Katie Martin. Romantic,
  traditional, hip and funky?More than anything,
  brides today want to impress their guests with
  unique touches that show off their individuality,
  Martin says. To do that, couples need to seek out
  a top-notch floral designer who can help them
  make their wedding dreams a reality.So where do
  you begin? Martin says most brides who come to
  her start off by telling her the color of their
  bridesmaids dresses, which are usually ordered
  far in advance. Once I know the color, then I
  can help her make some choices, she says. Other
  deciding factors? The venue and the season.If
  you have chosen your venue, get contact
  information for floral designers who have worked
  there, Martin advises. She keeps photo books of
  various D.C. venues where she has worked for
  previous clients for just that purpose, to give
  new bridal clients some solid design ideas.When
  it comes to seasonal floral choices, say youre
  planning a wedding in spring, a popular choice is
  tulips in pastel shades, Martin says. Late spring
  and early summer brides often select peonies.
  Fall and winter brides want warm-colored flowers
  such as gloriosa lilies in shades of burgundy,
  yellow and auburn.Flowers 101Many brides come
  to Martin with photos theyve clipped from
  magazines. Thats a good starting point, she
  says. But be open to suggestions. Often, she
  finds herself giving brides a crash course on
  flowers. Most brides only know about roses and
  calla lilies.Theyll most likely be spending
  more money on flowers at their wedding than at
  any other time in their lives, she says. How
  much? Usually about 10 to 15 percent of the
  entire wedding budget. In the D.C. area, most
  brides coming to Martin are spending between
  28,000 to 32,000 on the wedding, which
  translates to 2,800 and up on flowers.

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Florals Trends

• Floral Trend Report for 2007
• Whats In?
• Light blue flowers, often paired with accents of
  green, white or purple, are in this year, Martin
  says. Beautiful shades of blue can be found in
  hydrangea, iris, blue thistle, delphinium,
  hyacinth or muscari. Calla lilies in an eggplant
  tone or purple orchids are a good accent flower,
  she says.
• Bringing the groom in on floral decisions. A lot
  of couples in their 30s are paying for the
  wedding themselves, says Martin. And some
  grooms dont want bright fuschia.
• Whats Out?
• Say goodbye to pink and green as a color
  combination. They were big in 2006, says
  Martin.
• Another out? Cascading bouquets. Theyre
  difficult to make.
• Yellow has not been a big color, Martin notes.
• Martins parting words of advice Think twice
  before you choose an all-white bouquet. Why?
  They dont show up well in photos.

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Trends-Attendant Gifts

• Your bridesmaids have thrown you a blow out
  engagement party, some fantastic showers and a
  bachelorette party that was over the top. They
  are trotting across the country to be in your
  wedding, and doing it all while wearing
  bridesmaids gowns of your choosing and biting
  their tongues if it isnt their favorite color or
  style. Bridesmaids are not clones! 
• Personalize your gift
• Stuff your gift with Surprises
• Focus on their interests
• Boys will be boys  and they deserve a great gift
  too!We all know that men bond best over
  activities, so why give boring old money clips or
  cufflinks (they will probably only use with their
  rented tuxedos) as a groomsman gift? Give gifts
  that will keep on giving like poker chips, yard
  games like Petanque, Baggo (or Cornhole as its
  known in the Midwest), Bacci, darts, juggling
  balls... You get the picture. These all make
  excellent gifts that will most likely be out of
  their boxes before the end of their weekend
  together. 
• Download Bridesmaids and Groomsmen alike with the
  hottest trendSome gadgets are cool enough to be
  ogled by men and women. For the ultimate gift
  splurge for both the guys and gals in the wedding
  party, rock their world with an iPod Shuffle. But
  don't stop there! Personalize each Shuffle for
  the recipient with their favorite songs, download
  your Girl Posses party mix (we all have one!),
  and add some songs that are sure to turn up late
  night at the reception. The gift of time
  together

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Trends-Destination Weddings

• 1. Hire a professional wedding planner
  specializing in Baja CaliforniaGet started
  off(remove) on the right foot to wedding planning
  by enlisting an expert that knows the area,
  speaks the language, and can provide you with
  quality locations, resources and vendors to
  accommodate your vision, stylistic needs and
  budget. A coordinator will help alleviate stress
  and save you time, making the planning process a
  pleasant experience.
• 2.  Reserve your venue as early as
  possibleBecause Baja is growing rapidly in
  popularity amongst Americans as a prime location
  for a destination wedding, venues are getting
  booked up over a year in advance. Many couples
  are even turning to the weekdays to book their
  destination wedding, with the incentive of
  discounted rates! So if your dream is to wed in
  Baja, plan ahead and reserve the date early!3.
  Provide a favorable guest experienceTraveling to
  a destination may be a new experience for many of
  your guests. Take the time to plan the details
  that will enable them to have a positive journey.
  Here are some examples of details to consider
• Send Save The Date cards far in advance. Save The
  Date cards spread the word about your event, set
  the tone of the wedding, and more importantly,
  allow your guests to make travel accommodations
  early, leveraging possible savings for booking
  ahead. Save The Date cards are your first step to
  engaging your guests and provoking anticipation
  for your special day.
• Provide a detailed map and driving directions.
  Driving across the border into Baja takes
  preparationMexican auto insurance, money for the
  toll roads and cautious driving. Many guests,
  especially those accustomed to traveling in
  Mexico, will relish the adventure. Make their
  trip effortless by providing a detailed map and
  clear driving directions to your wedding
  destination.
• Offer chartered transportation. It is true that
  some of your guests will be hesitant to drive
  into Mexico. Put their minds at ease by offering
  round-trip transportation from San Diego to your
  Baja destination. Guests can sit back and enjoy
  the great vistas of the beautiful coast and
  captivating mountainous landscape. This
  convenience is sure to kick them into
  vacation-mode and have them arrive in great
  moods!
• Deliver themed welcome bags to guests upon their
  arrival. Your guests have traveled a great
  distance to share your special day with you.
  Shower them with a small surprise that gets them
  into the destination spirit. Fill a bag with fun
  items and useful information that is relevant to
  the location and reflects the style of your
  event.
• Provide some planned activities. Get your guests
  mingling by planning some organized activities
  that will bring family and friends together in a
  social environment. For example, plan a volley
  ball tournament during the day or a cocktail
  reception at night. Just the right amount of
  options will make your guests feel involved but
  still allow them to enjoy their mini-vacation.
• 4. Legalize your marriageYes, foreigners can
  legally get married in Mexico with a civil
  ceremony. However the process to obtain a
  marriage license in Mexico is specific, so it is
  important to gather and complete all required
  documentation and paperwork in advance in order
  to obtain your marriage license in a timely
  manner. To avoid this cumbersome process, many
  Americans are opting to obtain their marriage
  license in the U.S., getting married legally
  before their Baja celebration. Both options are
  valid you need to decide what works best for
  you.
• 5. Make it a signature weddingDont let marrying
  in a foreign country stop you from making your
  wedding a personalized experience! Keep your
  wedding vision alive because it can be executed
  with the right resources in place. Mexicos event
  industry is sophisticated and trendy, allowing
  you to tap into local resources before
  considering outside options. So go ahead, let
  your dream wedding unfold in the authentic
  surroundings of your ideal destination.

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Receptions

• Seated Dinners
• Buffet
• Hors DOeuvres and Dessert
• Tented
• Specialty drinks personalize your wedding.
  Specialty drinks can be created that match the
  color scheme of your wedding, the color of your
  bridesmaid's dresses or your flowers. Everyone
  looks fantastic sipping on a light blue martini
  or soft pink cocktail. Food should also look
  stunning, so presentation of your china or
  buffets is as equally important as how it tastes.
  Remember you eat with your eyes first.
• Price is per person 35 -100

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Cakes

• As your earrings or necklace are the final,
  perfect accessory to your wedding gown, your cake
  is the final, perfect adornment to your wedding
  design. The cake can be playful and fun, or all-
  white and fabulous whatever you choose, it
  should reflect you and your vision of the day.
  Attractively and prominently displayed, your
  wedding cake provides a lovely focal point for
  your guests' enjoyment, as they raise a glass to
  celebrate your special day. Your wedding cake
  should be displayed in your main room somewhere
  where all guests at all times can see the cake.
• Price is per slice- Normally 2.50 6.50

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Cakes-Bride
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Cakes-Groom (tradition)
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Related Events

• Showers
• Gift Displays and Teas
• Gift displays (tea at the house to view the gifts
  received)
• Teas also can be the day before the wedding
• Rehearsal Dinners
• Should be relaxed affairs for families and out of
  town guests
• Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties

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Services

• Photography
• Videography
• Cosmetology
• Travel
• Invitations (printed or engraved?)
• The number one question calligraphers are
  constantly asked is, What is the difference
  between hand-written calligraphy and computer
  generated calligraphy? Much of the difference
  comes down to price hand lettered calligraphy is
  of course more costly. You are paying a person to
  sit down for hours and rewrite your guest list in
  elaborate flourishing calligraphy styles,
  however, your guests will know that they were
  special.  
• Save the Date-all should be hand addressed
• Invitation-all should be hand addressed
• Response Card
• Announcements
• Thank you cards-all should be hand written and
  hand addressed
• Tastings
• Bridal Host Gifts
• Welcome Baskets