Work of AART Event: Raffaele's First Communion

Our client was throwing her son a First Communion at Fernandes Steak House in Newark, NJ and the theme was candy...YUMM!! She hired us to help set up the centerpieces and candy buffet and then man the candy station when it was time for dessert (just another way our Illusionism package can help you!). It was a fun party with amazing food and fun treats for everyone from the 3 foot tall gumball filled centerpiece (and yes I said 3 feet tall!), the ballon twisting of not just ordinary balloon animals, we're talking about a life size balloon baby, down to the photo booth! But let's face it, as fun as all that is, you really want to see the candy buffet. The buffet that has your favorite candy....the buffet that had over 15 candies!!!

So take a look at some pictures and enjoy. 

Our mouth's still water when we look at them! If you are thinking about adding a candy buffet to your party, contact us!

XOXO,

Aelicia & Rachael 

Yay!! You're Engaged...What's Next???

If you are one of the lucky couples that just got engaged this holiday weekend, Congratulations!! This is such an exciting time for you, your fiance, family and friends. Now that you have made all your phone calls and have stopped staring at your ring (for now!!) your mind goes to Now What??!!

We thought we would help you with that. Here are a few tips that we have given to past couples:

1) Head over to your salon and get that manicure! You will be showing off that ring to the stranger walking down the street so it only makes sense to make sure your nails look great!

2) Make it official. After you have left that salon, break out the camera and take a beautiful picture with you and your new fiance and send it to the paper. Then make sure you grab a copy when the announcement comes out!

3) Create your budget. This is one of the most important, and all be it scary, first wedding decision you will make. You want to agree on a number that you are both comfortable with and then.....

4) Prioritize what is most important to you! Do you absolutely need a band over a DJ or is there a venue that you have dreamt about since you were little? This information becomes very helpful when you start to distribute your funds to each category.

5) Contact us! You finally have calmed down, a little, from the excitement of when you said yes, you've set your budget and now you have no idea where to start. Hiring an experienced Wedding Planner will keep you on your budget as well as referring vendors that fit your style and budget. We can help you come up with a design concept and our design team at AART Designs can create invitations and other wedding day stationery that will reflect you and your wedding's style (and not to mention saving you some money by going with our design team!). We are here to make your visions become a reality. Contact us at 201-873-4921, 201-315-8747 or email us at info@aarteventplanning.com to set up your complimentary consultation and let us show you how we can help make your event a work of AART!

Congratulations again and we look forward to hearing from you!!

XOXO,

Aelicia & Rachael

Tips on Tuesday: Choosing Your Vendors

What a beautiful Tuesday it is....70 degrees in November...after a snow storm two weeks ago! Weather can be so unpredictable and we can't control it. What we do have control over is picking the perfect vendor for your occasion!

You have to do your research! Yes your friend may have told you about this amazing band she saw and you trust her so you booked them right away thinking it'll be fine right? Wrong!! Not everyone has the same taste in music and that is ok. If you want a band, check out their showcase to see them perform. If you are looking into a DJ, have them show you a video of one of their events so you can see how crowded the dance floor was. Ask them about their playlists. You want to make sure that you get someone that can offer a variety of music you are interested in.

When meeting your vendors, come with a list of questions. For instance, when meeting a photographer, ask them about places they have taken their bride and groom for outside pictures. Have a place in mind already, ask them about it. Having this dialogue will allow you to easily figure out if you and the photographer will have the same vision for your day. And don't forget to look at their albums. This is something you are going to look back on year after year.

Read their reviews. If you do not know anyone who has used them before or you do not have a wedding planner that recommended some great vendors, read what others said about them. This will give you a great feel for them too.

Don't get caught up in the price. Yes it is very important to look at a vendor within your budget if you have allotted one. But sometimes the expensive choice isn't always the smartest choice. You can get an excellent vendor without breaking the bank.

Trust your instincts. Many couples that we speak to all say the same thing: "I knew I wanted them within the first 5 minutes....". You know who you are comfortable with. If you are second guessing a lot of things, then clearly they may not be the right vendor for you.

Remember, you have been preparing for your event for a long time and you want only the best to make it everything you had dreamed of. When you follow your instincts, you can never go wrong! And if you need some reassurance or recommendations, we are always glad to help!

XOXO,

Aelicia & Rachael

Tips on Tuesday: Making Your Event Memorable

After a great response from last week's Tips on Tuesday's blog, I'm feeling the pressure this week lol. I hope I've made you proud!

Let's face it, everyone wants their event to be memorable and unique, especially a wedding, but not everyone knows how to do it without it still feeling like it's "been there done that". To pull this off is really easy, and stems back to last weeks Tips on Tuesday's blog Figuring your Wedding Style.

Last week when I wrote about having your wedding style be representative of you and your fiance, the same would apply here to making your event memorable. Sure having a great band play at your wedding or having a little late night snack handed out to your guests as they leave is a great idea. But when you add those unique touches that are personal and mean something to you and your fiance, that's what get your guests talking about your event for years to come!

Our very own Rachael had kept the petals her husband had given her through the years & bottled & handed them out as favors for their wedding with an adorable saying: "We give to you a part of our past, to thank you for celebrating the beginning of our future"

Photo courtesy of AART Designs

Are you and your fiance a movie buff? A cute idea would be to use a DVD case of your favorite movies as your table number display.

Maybe you are a wine lover, like so many of us are. Making your own wine and handing them out as your favors is a great personal touch to say Thank You!

And what if you are a couple that loves to travel. Design each table of the different places you have been together and add luminaries with pictures of you at these places.

Photo courtesy of AART Designs

Anything can make your event wonderful but the personal touches are what makes your even memorable! Plus, it's touches like this that Wedding magazines love to see and gives you a chance at being published!

Did you do something unique that is still making your event the talk of the town? We'd love to hear about it as well as seeing those pictures!

In the middle of planning your event and have come to a roadblock? Contact us and we'd love to help!

XOXO,

Aelicia & Rachael

Friday's Featured Business: Creative Custom Card Boxes

Happy Weekend everyone! I can't believe Friday is here already. And if you have been following our Friday blogs, then you know today we feature one of our favorite businesses and today that goes to Creative Custom Card Boxes!

Marni Gold is the owner and designer of Creative Custom Card Boxes. She created her company when she was planning her own wedding in 2008. Frustrated at not being able to find a unique and secure way to store the wedding envelopes at the reception, Marni decided to create her own eco-friendly card box that was simple yet elegant and matched with her wedding decor. She created this with her mother Linda, who has years of decor and entertaining experience. We love that!!

Today, Marni has created many boxes for every theme, and has even increased her product line to now offer Cake Table Decor Letters, Monograms/Logos and Monogram Cake Toppers. Creative Custom Card Boxes has also been featured on many blogs, Get Married, Style Me Pretty, New Jersey Bride Magazine and WE TV's Platinum Weddings! Just to name a few : )

Adding a card box is a great addition to a wedding, birthday, christening or any other event. Here's a peek at some of Marni's past work:

Have a great weekend everyone. We can't wait to see what the weekend inspiration brings us and we'll be sure to share them with you next week!

XOXO,

Aelicia & Rachael