Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Top 10 Dos & Don'ts for an Island Wedding

1. DO be realistic about your hair & makeup options.
While an island wedding can be a dream come true, tropical breezes, heat and humidity can do damage to hair and makeup. When planning a destination wedding, take the elements into consideration before choosing your hairstyle. For a beach or other outdoor ceremony, seriously consider an up-do. This tried and true style will keep you looking polished all night. If you are determined to wear your locks down, invest in a stylist to spend the day with you touching up your makeup and hair so you do not have a tangled and messy do by the time you enter the reception.

FYEP's Tip: I totally agree with the above statement....Warm breezes, sunshine, humidity and unwanted frizzy hair - while a summertime wedding may seem picture-perfect, the weather can do a number on your moody mane. You may also want to think "will my hair get in the way for pictures?"

2. DON’T put your groom and groomsmen in a tuxedo.
While most people cannot envision anything but a tux, any attire that is black and made of wool is a no-no in tropical climates. While this may look good for pictures, a fainting groom or groomsmen will put a damper on your day. Consider going with an island feel with your groom in a lightweight linen suit.

FYEP's Tip: Men do have it a bit easier when planning on destination wedding attire. Most likely, your destination wedding will be a less formal affair than a church wedding. A light suit with or without a tie, or a pair of casual pants and a button down shirt will be dressy enough for a beach wedding...just make sure to match your outfit to the type of dress that you as a bride are choosing to wear.

3. DO wind proof your décor.
When creating place cards, favors and other décor for your tropical celebration, keep in mind that the wind can be your enemy. You can personalize and wind proof these details with a little creativity. For instance, tie seashells to each place card to anchor them. On the dinner table, weigh your menus and dinner napkins down with maracas made of coconut shells. If tall centerpieces are your dream, have the florist secure the centerpieces to a heavy, flat object such as a larger mirror. She can always cover these mechanics by lining the vases with leaves, palms or another natural element that will carry out your theme.

FYEP's Tip:One of the bonuses of an outdoor wedding is the natural beauty, lessening your need to decorate. Since you've got the great outdoors providing scenery, you probably don't need much in the way of decorations. If you're putting candles on the tables, don't forget to encase them with hurricane lamps so that the wind doesn't blow them out.

4. DO entertain your guests.
A destination wedding is definitely more work than a hometown affair simply because you have not only invited guests to your wedding, you have also invited them on vacation. For this reason, plan days at the beach, a sunset cocktail hour or other simple activities where your guests can spend time with you without breaking your budget.

FYEP's tip: Guests will be wondering what kind of activities are scheduled for the weekend. Let them know ahead of time what the schedule of planned events and casual gatherings is so they are not left hanging, or missing out on anything because no one told them about it.Have welcome baskets with information and/or itinerary for each guest/couple, or put the information on your wedding website.

5. DON’T feel obligated to plan every minute.
On the other hand, guests are on vacation, too. Do provide them with activity options and a short itinerary for the week so they know where to find you. However, definitely allow them time to explore the island on their own.

FYEP's Tip: While the wedding ceremony and reception are the main events, it is not uncommon for guests to extend their trip and turn their wedding trip into a vacation. Including in their welcome baskets information about the hotel, reservations, restaurants and things to do in the area is a nice gesture.

6. DO be flexible.
Whether it is about the minister or the décor, recognize that with a destination wedding you may not have as many options when it comes to clergy, photographers, even flowers. If you are set on a Lutheran minister or an 8mm cinematographer, recognize that you may have to fly someone in to handle these tasks. Ultimately, approaching the event by being flexible will relieve stress on everyone’s part and save you a few bucks as well.

FYEP's Tip: Ideally, you would be able to travel to your location at least once prior to the wedding, have meetings with potential vendors and then, after you’ve made your decision and returned home, start working with them via phone and e-mail. However, if your location is too far away for even one visit, but you’ve really done your research, try to trust your vendors and let them do their job. If you're considering hiring some of your local professionals, do keep in mind to inquire if this is acceptable, since some destination locations do not allow outside vendors.

7. DON’T do it alone, but DO shop around.
Never plan a destination wedding completely on your own. In doing so, you are risking disappointments such as your cake not showing up, flowers being late, etc. While it is not necessary to hire an independent wedding planner to get you through everything, make sure your wedding venue has someone with your best interests in mind.

FYEP's Tip: Planning any wedding can be nerve-wracking. When you want that wedding to take place at a destination away from home — one that you may not even see before the wedding — it can be hugely anxiety-producing. Hire and trust a seasoned professional to take care of all the details.

8. DO trust the experts.
Once you’ve found the best vendors to handle your day, trust your judgment and their guidance, especially in a location where you may or may not have visited. While things like the direction of the setting sun and timing of high tide may not be of concern to you, it will definitely be on the mind of your wedding planner as well as your other vendors, who are ultimately there to ensure you have a flawless wedding day.

9. DON’T expect everyone you invite to attend.
Traveling is expensive, especially to some of the world’s top tropical destinations. Because of this, expect a certain percentage of your guests to decline your invite. While this can be initially disappointing, it will make for a much more intimate celebration.
FYEP's Tip: Give your guests plenty of time to plan for the ocassion by sending out early "save the dates" to everyone you want to invite. These should be sent 6 to 8 months before the wedding. Indicate on your save the date the who (you and your fiance), the what (your wedding), the when (date and time), the where (location of the wedding) and the how (any additional information). Include whatever information you might have about the wedding destination and how to get there, including a web address, your travel agent's phone number, lodging information and any group activities or discounts you have negotiated. The more information you provide, the easier it will be for your friends and family to attend your wedding.

10. DO embrace the culture.
Island life is like no other. Because of this, you would be doing your guests an injustice if you did not introduce them to the unique culture of the location of your choice. It doesn’t have to be anything as out there as a ceremony with Polynesian chanting, but some touches are great. When in Hawaii, consider greeting your guests with a lei, or hire a hula dancer for the dinner hour. If you’re in the Caribbean, start your cocktail hour off with Mojitos and a steel drum player.

All in all mo matter what, remember that you choose an island wedding to relax and give your guests an experience like no other. If you keep this in perspective throughout the planning, your wedding celebration will seem perfect even if there are a few hiccups during the week. Good Luck and Happy Planning! ~Catherine

Monday, August 24, 2009

Yellow Inspiration {Signature Drink}

Lemon Drop Martini

Ingredients:

1/4 ounce fresh lemon juice

1/2 ounce Cointreau or Triple Sec

2 ounces Citrus Vodka

1 lemon wheel, for garnish

In a cocktail shaker mix all the ingredients well with ice, shake and strain into a chilled martini glass with a sugared rim. Float a thin wheel of lemon on top of the drink.

Source: Colin Cowie

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Thought of the day...

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person"

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Photoshare cards

I'm a big fan of those photos that guests catch unexpectedly at weddings. It’s almost kind of seeing your wedding through the eyes of your guests.
So why not have your guests share those candids with you? You may/can get your hands on a lot quicker on these!!

Pictured below are photoshare cards I created for Leydiana and Luis
Photo-share cards are a great accessory to add to your reception.
You can include them with your favors, place them at the cocktail hour, dinner tables or even place them at the bar.
All you have to do is include a note to guests asking to publish/share their digitals to your photo sharing site; add your photo sharing website link and password. Once guests upload their photos onto your photo sharing site, everyone who logs in can enjoy them. You can also use these shared photos and create a photo book or personalized thank you cards!
Some online photo management and sharing application sites are: Flickr, Shutterfly, Photobucket and Webshots.

Monday, August 17, 2009

{The Rose} What does this flower symbolize?

Flowers and their meanings have been a subject of curiosity for as long as humankind has taken the time to behold the beauty enfolded in each petal. Symbolism is endless in flowers and meanings range from protection, to love, to warnings, to wealth.

The rose, for example, symbolizes pure love. The meaning and symbolism of the rose is known by almost everyone on some level - otherwise it wouldn’t be the most popularly sent flower on Valentine’s Day! Some keywords pertaining to symbolic rose meaning are Love, Honor, Faith, Beauty, Balance, Passion, Wisdom, Intrigue, Devotion, Sensuality and Timelessness.

In art of the renaissance, a rose with eight petals is a message of rebirth and renewal, and a rose with seven petals is a symbol of inclusion, universal understanding and order.

Three roses are symbolic of a guiding principle. Each of the three roses symbology indicates abiding 1) Love, 2) Life, and 3) Light.

In mythology, rose meaning is associated with Aphrodite (Greek) goddess of love who was often depicted adorned with roses around her head, feet and or neck. In lore, we track down this association when we discover that a rose bush grew within the pool of blood spilled from Aphrodite’s slain lover (Adonis). We can interpret the symbolism here several ways. The most common interpretation is that the rose symbolizes an immortal love or a union that will never fade - even through time or death.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Escort Cards vs. Place Cards

So what are escort cards?
Escort Cards are used to let each guest know what table they are assigned to, and a
Place Card is a card bearing the name of a guest left at a table setting to indicate their seating assignment.
I created these escort cards for my 7.25.09 couple Leydiana and Luis.
Custom cut 3 x 3 square tents in metallic cardstock and a layer of 2.5 x 2.5 canvas panel accented with damask art.
TIP: If you’re going to take on this daunting task of selecting who is going to sit at which table,
you may as well have fun with it.
Name the tables after special cities, restaurants, wines and/or include your childhood pictures on them. And create a lovely display out of the cards themselves.

*Cue your wedding or bridal shower guests to their assigned tables and/or seats with one of
For Your Event Planning's customized placecards. info@foryoureventplanning.com

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Candy Buffet {Michelle's Bridal Shower 8.2.09}

Nowadays, brides are opting for the delicious display of decadent treats. It complements the wedding ambiance, giving people a chance to choose whatever tempts their taste buds. But candy buffets aren’t just for weddings. People have gone beyond weddings and have branched out to adding the sweet twist to all their special events.
Here are pictures of the Candy Bar we created for Michelle's Bridal Shower at The Ria Mar in South River, NJ. The colorful event was hosted by her friend and bridesmaid Carla along with the rest of the bridal party.

Michelle's Bridal Shower was a girly themed-colorful event;
Shades of Pinks, Purples, Yellows and Greens! And of course, all of her favorite Sweets!

Our colorful, yummy and sweet candy Buffet display added a unique and memorable touch,
as all of her guests mentioned this was their first time experiencing this feast of sweetness!




The candy buffet craze is on the rise. A candy buffet is aesthetically pleasing to the eye, drawing party guests to a mouthwatering array of salivating sweets.
Contact us for more information on a Candy Bar For Your Event! We also create Cookie, Cupcake, Chocolate and Dessert Buffet Bars!
For Your Event Planning
Candy Buffets
(201) 892-0328

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Professional Spotlight {Dreams Made Real}

You have decided to “tie the knot”. You have chosen a wedding date and location, you picked out the perfect wedding dress. But now you are faced with the daunting task of finding someone to marry you. Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life and your wedding ceremony is the most important part of your wedding day. You will want to choose your wedding Officiant wisely. I highly recommend Dreams Made Real to couples looking for a Wedding Officiant. I have worked with Joe and Kathy and have always been impressed with their professionalism, attention to detail, and their ability to offer a truly custom/personalized wedding ceremony.
Name: Dreams Made Real
Blog: No blogs! We're computer illiterate!
Contact: 753-552-9711
Established: 2000
Employees: Joe and Kathy McLaughlin
Pricing: Varies between $200 - $275
Serving areas: Monmouth, Ocean and parts of North Jersey
Services offered: Personalized ceremonies, unlimited wedding advice/consultations

How long have you been officiating ceremonies?
9 years

And how did Dreams Made Real start?
I was already a certified bridal consultant and Joe was an ordained chaplain for his fire department when we married. When our oldest son decided to get married, he asked Joe to perform his ceremony. We; Kathy and Joe, combined forces and Dreams Made Real began.

What do you love most about officiating ceremonies?
The couples and how they view what's important to them and their own weddings. It's very exciting and wonderful to see that marriage still exists and that people still believe in it. It's also very heartwarming to be such an important part of any couple's wedding day.

What is something that few people know about you?
Our very own wedding vows were highlighted in Diane Warner's "The Complete Book of Wedding Vows".

What is one piece of advice you would offer to engaged couples?
Make sure that you become a part of your wedding ceremony. Make your vows come from the heart and believe in them. Take them seriously and remember them always.

What can you share about your friends at For Your Event Planning?
We had the pleasure of working with Cathy and found her to be not only professional, but personable and friendly. She really "knows her stuff" and we feel comfortable suggesting her services to our couples who need a full time event planner.

Anything else?
We offer professional and personal service and welcome ALL couples. I was also a prime writer of bridal advice for www.USABrides.com

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Leydiana + Luis 7.25.09

Leydiana and Luis were married at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Union City and their fabulous reception was held at The Bethwood in Totowa, NJ. These 2 love birds have been together since they were in high school!
Now, years later and their love is still palpable ... they celebrated with their friends and family becoming husband and wife and it truly was a pleasure to be a part of their big day...

After working on a few inspiration boards for the couple, the bride chose a high-contrast palette of buttercup- yellow, black and white, and the effects of silver and contemporary touches of damask--certainly chic! I think you all know how obsessed I am with damask and planning Leydiana's and Luis' wedding sure made me feel like a kid in a candy store!

Here I am with the Happy Couple. Thanks to Josh Lynn for taking this photo with my crappy camera =)
Ana got a take at me holding the Bride and Groom bears. Leydiana's Bride bear was wearing the very first dress Leydiana wore as a baby. What a sweet memory to add to your wedding day!

The Wedding Cake – a three-tiered round coconut-filled cake. Soft yellow, hand created anemones and stenciled damask patterns adorned each tier. It was so yummy, thanks to our friend Buddy Valastro "Cake Boss" at Carlos Bakery, Hoboken, NJ.

We at FYEP lent our distinct creativity and touch of glitz to the florals, design and décor. The décor scheme featured lots of candlelight that draped the setting with an intimate glow. We topped dinner tables, bar area and cake table with candles. Half of the tables had a giant floater dish filled with water and floating gerberas and candles, while the other half consisted of 3 tall lit-up cylinder vases with submerged yellow orchids and floating candles-both served as creative alternatives to traditional floral centerpieces.


I love seeing a wedding whose elements are special to the couple; whether it's celebrating at a location special to them, including family tradition or honoring heritage... I think making the event personal is really special... Leydiana's mom had always envisioned her wedding-since Leydiana was a little girl and she always dreamt of Leydiana having her wedding reception at The Bethwood. What a beautiful and lasting memory for Leydiana's parents.




The entire occasion was a reflection of love, friendship and family. Above all, the couple wanted their guests to enjoy themselves. Leydiana and Luis successfully crafted an event that was both formal and fun. From the fabulous and fun Photobooth by Josh Lynn and NJPhotobooths and the beautifully presented sweet and tempting Candy Buffet by For Your Event Planning to the elaborate ice sculptures and signature drinks, every element came together to set a mood of elegance.





A big thanks to the wonderful vendors that made this wedding a truly memorable one!


{Bride's Gown} David's Bridal
{Alterations & Bridesmaid's dresses} Memories Bridal by Reem
{Groom and Groomsmen Tuxedos} Rich at Biltmore Tuxedos, Ridgewood, NJ
{Hair for Bride and Bridal Party} La Sorella Bridal by Mandy Liento
{Make Up for Bride and Bridal Party} Alexa Prisco at The Glam Fairy
{Rehearsal Dinner} Sarellis Fine Italian Cuisine, Bayonne, NJ
{Ceremony} Father Zeljko at St. Anthony of Padua Church. Union City, NJ
{Reception} The Bethwood
{Photographer} Camille at Avalon Studios
{Photobooth} Josh Lynn and NJPhotobooths
{Video} Lynn at Kenneth Stillman Video
{DJ} Johnny Budz at Elite Sound Entertainment
{Transportation} Santos VIP Limo
{Up-Lighting} by Jim at JBLighting Production
{Florals & Design} by For Your Event Planning
{Bride's and Bridesmaid's Bouquets} by Touch of Love Florist
{Invitations} by For Your Event Planning authorized retailer of Carlson Craft
{Cake} Buddy Valastro "Cake Boss" Carlos Bakery
{Cake Topper} KPitt Designs by Katrina
(Aisle/table monogramed runner} Aisle Walk with You by Arlene

Check back for some pro-pictures!

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Preserving Memories...Carrie + Dan 8.8.08 {Happy Anniversary!}

Happy 1st Anniversary!
Remember Carrie and Dan? They were our lucky in love 8/8/08 wonderful couple. They tied the knot during a beautiful outdoor ceremony at The Birchwood Manor in Whippany, NJ. Carrie wanted to preserve her beautiful wedding bouquet and let us handle the process with our great preservation specialist Deb.

Here's a picture of her finished product...


Isn't it beautiful?! Along with her bouquet, Carrie opted to include her Invitation, Invite flap and Cake topper in the frame. What a way to preserve all of the day's memories!

If you're interested in preserving your wedding bouquet, contact us at info@foryoureventplanning.com subject line: Bouquet Preservation

Friday, August 7, 2009

Thought of the Day...


Handle every stressful situation like a dog...
If you can't eat it or hump it, piss on it and walk away.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Candy Buffets {Black and White and Yellow Inspiration}

Who doesn't love candy?
Remember the magical feeling you would get when you walked into a candy store as a child? All those colourful and mouth-watering candies and chocolates that lined the walls and displays of the entire store? Well the magic of candy never gets old. The options are endless and the colors of the sweets can be coordinated to match any color scheme.
Leydiana and Luis (7.25.09) decided to have our "Candy Buffet" services as an addition to their dessert table and as a take-away treat for their guests at the end of the evening.

We created the sweet and tempting visual feast in their wedding colors;
Black, White, Yellow and Silver.

We used a variety of different sized and shaped martini, champagne, wine and margarita glasses to give it a bar-twist, which complimented their love for martinis and everything drinks!


Thanks to our friend Josh Lynn for the great photos...with my Nikon =)

Thinking of a candy buffet for your wedding Reception?

Get in touch with us to book a complimentary consultation! http://www.foryoureventplanning.com/

We'd love to go candy shopping for you!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Lovely Finds for Ceremony: Pew Cards!

What a great find!
Pew cards are the perfect accessory to include in your wedding invitations and make sure your loved ones get front row seats at your ceremony while you exchange vows.
Send these "bride's side and groom's side" pew cards to your closest family members in their invitations. Write a note on the back with instructions to bring the pew card to the ceremony and hand it to an usher.
What an easy and sneaky way to get VIP seating at a ceremony!
You can make these yourself with an adjustable circular cutter, some cardstock, stencils, brushes and paint!

Source: Mint Design

Retail Therapy!

Retail Therapy is the cure all!

Yesterday was an eventful day with sun-bathing by the pool, then the beach and talk about making the most out of my trip...I went to the fantabulous Jersey Premiun Outlet, it just so happens that I live 15 minutes away...that may be screaming DANGERRR! I've been very good lately but I definitely had a weak moment yesterday.

Last night I looked like the girl pictured above! LOL
Now today is back to the GRIND...

Saturday, August 1, 2009

{Blue Inspiration} Signature Drink

Blue Mojito



Ingredients:

1 oz. HPNOTIQ liqueur
2 oz. Light Rum
3 oz. Club Soda
6 fresh mint leaves








Shake HPNOTIQ liqueur, light rum and mint leaves with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a rocks glass and top with club soda.