AART Event Planning Look Back: Tips on Thursday DIY Projects

DIY projects are always a big hit. You can incorporate them into any event you are having! Today's look back is about DIY Projects. Enjoy!!

We LOVE DIY projects! They can put a beautiful, sentimental an creative touch to any event. But be careful. One can go a little overboard and end up spending more on unnecessary items. Our tip: go simple and think outside the box. 

Dressing up a bistro table for an outside event? Go to your local dollar store and get different size vases and floating candles and dress it up with some ribbon or pearls. Need a children's party favor that you want them to really get use out of? Create and print out a coloring book! 

Here are some pictures of some DIY projects that we have done. Just remember, when doing a DIY project, simple can be beautiful. And have fun!! 







XOXO, 
Aelicia & Rachael 

Tips on Tuesday: Best Man Duties

We haven't done a Tips on Tuesday in a while so when I came across this article, I thought it was perfect! We always talk about the bride and how to perfect the wedding of their dreams but what about the men? Being asked to be a Best Man is a big deal, but then what? So this is for all the men out there today. Finally the focus is on you lol!

This article I found on wedding.autopilot gave a few tips for you and can be very helpful especially if this is the first time you've ever been asked to hold such an honor in the bride and groom's wedding party. It isn't overwhelming information, just a couple things from before the big day, because yes there is something you can do besides plan the Bachelor party, to the reception. Believe me you'll get to enjoy the night. You'll just also be the "Best Man Ever" that day!

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

Tips on Tuesday: How NOT to overcrowd your table

Happy Tuesday everyone! Today we are talking about your tables....and our suggestions on how to keep your guests eyes on the beauty and not the clutter.

Brides, we know how hard you have planned and worked on creating the wedding of your dreams. The perfect flowers, centerpieces, favors, etc. You wait for the big day to see it all put together and we know (and hope) it is more beautiful than you could have ever imagined. But....sometimes, what we see is....clutter.

So we want to help! Here are some tips on being able to get everything you want on your tables, with all your personal touches, without it looking too crowded and over filled.

1) Start by thinking about having different things at different tables. What many brides do not realize is that sometimes, venues use different size tables depending on the number of guests that will be seated there. If you have a table of 12 with centerpieces, favors, etc, then your table of 8 could be smaller and then all of the items you chose for your table will not fit. Make sure to check this with your venue.

2) We see many weddings having different centerpieces at different tables and it looks amazing! Your eye just keeps going all around the room from one beautiful centerpiece to another. But with that said, again make sure to adjust what goes on each table. Not every table needs 6 votives. Maybe some get more, some get less pending the size of your centerpieces.

3) Keep your favors small enough to fit next to a glass or on a small plate. This helps opening up space on the table. Allowing guests room for their cameras or purses.

4) Do a sample table. Set a table up at home. 12 plates, 12 water glasses. 12 wine glasses, a centerpiece, favors etc. See how it looks and how you can tweak it. Do you need 2 bottles of wine at each table? Maybe the table numbers should be on a stand taking up less space? What if you did smaller centerpieces on one table, what can be added? Or bigger centerpieces on another, what should be taken away?

5) Many couples have added donations as part of favors. Another piece added to a table. How about making one donation sign and place it by a sign in book or maybe your card box? Then give it your personal touch by announcing your choice of donation to all your guests.

Happy planning and enjoy your big day!!

XOXO,

Aelicia & Rachael

Tips on Tuesday: How to cut costs on your Wedding Day

Northern New Jersey is one of the top most expensive places to have a wedding. We understand how expensive weddings are and we love helping brides save as much as they can and still get the wedding they always dreamed of. Here are some tips we'd like to share.

1. Probably the most common way to cut cost on your wedding is to pick an off season month. And to cut cost even more, an off day. Maybe a Saturday afternoon wedding in November. Or a Sunday in February.
2. Let friends or family help. Chance are you have a friend or family member that has a business in the events field. Maybe you know someone crafty that can do your centerpieces, or someone that does invitations, hobby in photography. Let them help as their gift to you.
3. Buy your own flowers, use silk flowers or even grow them yourself!
4. Have your wedding ceremony and reception at the same location. This cuts cost for limousine services and you may be able to see if vendors will give you a small discount if they will be doing less traveling that day.
5. Stick to that budget!! Many weddings lose sight of how much things can add up. You may have an idea of how much your wedding will cost, or how much things have added up to but with out really tracking all the expenses and budgeting, you may find yourself purchasing items that were not necessary or getting a vendor at a higher price because you didn't realize what you should have budgeted for it.

OK, 6 ways to save! Consider hiring an event planner. It may seem like it is out of your budget but, we are here to make sure that you DO stick to your budget and offer discounts when using our preferred vendors, saving you money right from the start.

One thing you can be sure of for your wedding day is that it will be absolutely wonderful and one of the very best days of your lives, so enjoy every moment!

XOXO,

Aelicia & Rachael

Tips on Tuesday: Finding the perfect Wedding Dress

Sunday were the 2011 Emmy's and people are still talking about the amazing fashions that walked down the red carpet (the absolutely stunning Sofia Vergara, Amber Riley and Julia Stiles just to name a few). So we at AART Event Planning thought, today's blog would be about a dress.....the Wedding Dress!

One of the biggest, and many, decisions that you will make is choosing the perfect wedding dress. All eyes will be on you all night so of course you want to look your best. Shopping for it will be a memorable experience, but can be just as stressful and scary! A-line, Ball Gown, Mermaid, Fit and Flare. So many styles to chose from, where do you begin! Here are some things to think about when shopping for that perfect dress.

1) Give yourself enough time to shop for the dress. Many bridal shops/boutiques will tell you that it can take at least six months for your dress to come in. And let's not forget about the few fittings that will need to be figured in that timeline. We suggest shopping at least a year before your wedding day. Planning your wedding in a short amount of time? Do not fear, you can still get that dress of your dreams. Just remember to add in the rush cost when shopping.

2) Budget, budget, budget! Purchasing a wedding dress can get to be pretty expensive. You might fall in love with a dress that is 2 or 3 times over your budget! Decide on a budget that you are comfortable with spending and let your sales representative know. This way they can show you only dresses that are within that budget. This way it'll save you heartache for falling in love with something you cannot afford.

3) Think before you go. You have been dreaming of this day forever right? And I'm sure you have envisioned the dress of your dreams. Look through wedding magazines and pull out pictures of the dresses that speak to you the most. Do you want a long train or full skirt? Bring the pictures with you when you start shopping and give them to your sales rep. They can take this information and show you all the dresses that you have been thinking about, that are within your budget. Also keep an open mind. Your rep might show you something that isn't quite on your list of must haves but you just may fall in love with it anyway. We've definitely seen many brides walk out with a dress that was completely opposite of what they originally envisioned....including me!

4) Think of your body type. You know what fits you best. What style dresses have you worn that made you feel absolutely beautiful in? Think of that and look for a wedding dress that has those similarities.

5) Be comfortable, but most importantly, be you! Yes you want to look amazing. I mean it is your wedding day. But don't forget to be comfortable. You will be wearing this dress all day long - taking pictures, dancing and let's not forget eating! If you love to dance, then you don't want to have a heavily beaded dress that's so heavy to move around in. The last thing we want to hear is our bride say they are so uncomfortable and cannot wait to take their dress off. Remember, be you. You will probably have many people with you when you shopping for your wedding dress. And with that comes many opinions. Yes you want to make everyone happy with your dress decision but the most important person that needs to be happy is you. Remember, it is your wedding day and this is a dress you will be wearing. Let it be comfortable and reflect the person you are.

We hope this helps you ease your wedding dress shopping experience. This is supposed to be the fun part and one that you will never forget. So now we know you are ready to go shopping for those wedding dresses! We'd love to hear all about your dress shopping experience and if you have pictures, we'd love to see those too! Who knows, it just may be featured here!! : )

*dress pictures from Vera Wang

XOXO,

Aelicia & Rachael

Wedding and Event Tip: Set a Budget

Today's "Tips on Tuesday's" is Setting a Budget. Seems simple right? Oh but how this can be such a shock to many of our clients.

It does not matter if you are throwing a wedding or a backyard BBQ, setting a budget is extremely helpful. It allows you to see what is most important for you to have and what is left to spend for those last minute items that you must have! Here are some basic tips to note:

1. Decide on a realistic budget and stick to it. You do not want to look at your event and not enjoy it because you went 3x's over budget.

2. Write down a list of EVERYTHING you will need for your event by creating categories and sub-categories (i.e. Decor and then a list of what you need) and then assign a percentage of your budget that you will like to allot to each area. This step is so crucial as all of those little things your heart desires can add up.

3. Create a column for your budgeted amount and another one of what you actually paid.

By following these tips, it will make it easier for you to stay within your budget. Seem overwhelming? Give us a call and we can take care of it for you!

XOXO
Aelicia & Rachael