Eventfully Yours

Incorporating Step-Parents into Your Wedding

Weddings are a time to be happy.  A time to celebrate love and family.  This is true for most people.  Sometimes, things can get difficult and couples can find themselves in the middle of a nightmare.  Blended families pose a tricky situation, especially if everyone is not on good terms.  Here are some suggestions for including step-parents, even if the relationship is not all warm and fuzzy.

1.  Say it with words:  Add a special acknowledgment in the ceremony program with their name.  This gives them recognition at the wedding and something your step-parent can cherish for a long time.  If the relationship is less than stellar, there is no need to go overboard.  A simple, "Thanks for being a part of my life..."

2.  Put them on the floral list:  Make sure your step-parents have the appropriate floral hardware, a boutonniere or corsage.

3.  Allow them to greet guests:  At the reception, let them work the room, thanking guests for coming.

4.  Allow them to light the unity tapers:  If you are having a unity candle ceremony (or sand or rose ceremonies) as part of your wedding, have one of your step-parents do the honor of lighting a candle (or pouring sand, etc.).

If you found a way to incorporate your step-parents into your ceremony, please share how you did it, by commenting!

Get Hip to GetMarried.com!

If you are planning a wedding, you have no doubt heard of the television show, Get Married.  If not, I'll fill you in.  It airs on the Lifetime Channel and in the Cleveland, Ohio market it airs at 7:30am.  I know, thank goodness for tivo, dvr, etc. 

If you can't catch the show, do the next best thing and get your fingers clicking  to getmarried.com.  They have helpful tips and tools on just about everything from flowers to decor.  You can also search for local vendors in your area. 

I've attached a video from the florist of Ashlee Simpson's wedding and he shares samples of the quirky but very cute centerpieces that he created for her "Alice in Wonderland" themed wedding.

Earth Day 2009 - Cleveland Events

Happy Earth Day everyone!  If you are reading this, I'm not sure if that is good or bad.  One of the main things that I've seen across the web and on the news is for people to turn off the power and head out doors!  If you are in the Cleveland area the following list contains some of the activities taking place today that you can join in:

Medina County Park District's Buffalo Creek Retreat, just south of Hubbard Valley Park, 8600 Hubbard Valley Road, Guilford Township, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free; earth-friendly exhibits, fishing.

Recycling drive, Firestone Metro Park, Coventry Oaks Pavilion 40 Axline Ave., Akron, 5 to 7 p.m. Acceptable items include cardboard, phone books, newspapers, magazines, books, musical instruments and e-waste (batteries, cell phones, computers, VCRs and radios). Televisions will not be accepted. Call 330-867-5511 or go to www.summitmetroparks.org.

Lights Out Ohio, sponsored by the Sierra Club's Portage Trail Group, 8 to 9 p.m. One-hour activity encourages energy conservation by asking residents and businesses to turn off nonessential lighting for one hour. Go to www.LightsOutOhio.org.

Eco-Friendly - Flyboy Naturals

Rose petals add that touch of romance and elegance to an event instantly.  One of my favorite weddings from last year, a couple gave away favors of rose petals that the bride kept from throughout their relationship. 

If you don't have a treasure trove of rose petals to use on your special day, visit Flyboy Naturals. According to their website, 

Your Choice Makes A Difference!
Our eco-friendly petals are a natural choice for the socially conscious person...couple...event planner...business! They are biodegradable, non-staining & not slippery. You can choose to have a stunning event or wedding toss without causing harm to the earth.

We are happy to help you make your special event, romantic evening or wedding a bit "greener"

As seen on ABC's GOOD MORNING AMERICA.
GMA used our Rose Petals for a special Wedding in Niagara Falls, New York.

I just recently received an order from them and I can say first hand that their quality is wonderful and the petals smell sooooo good!

Plus Size Wedding Gowns

Almost ten years ago when I was looking for my wedding gown, it was not easy.  See, I'm a curvy girl and back then the dresses available for us curvy goddesses (humor me here!) just did not cut the cake!  It is no wonder that my wedding dress is resigned to the abyss of my basement storage room, never to be seen again unless one of my beautiful daughters wants to use a bit of fabric for their own dress.  Back to the subject at hand!

In my travels into all things weddings, the company Baraluxe was brought to my attention at a recent trunk show.  They carry beautiful plus size gowns made for curvy goddesses!

This one is my absolute favorite!  Check their website, which they have recently redesigned, for any upcoming trunk shows in your area!

 

Event Expo 2009

Calling all event planners in the Northeastern Ohio area!  Head out to the House of Blues in Downtown Cleveland on April 30, 2009 from 9:00am-4:00pm for an informative day of networking and event ideas.  This event is completely free and you can register online here.

This year's speaker is Michael Cerbelli of the New York/New Jersey based Total Entertainment.  Let me just say that I saw Michael speak at The Special Event back in January and it was great!

Kudos to Event Source and Team Promotions for continuing to host this great event!

 

Eco-Friendly Friday - Be Organized

I know, I know, you're thinking how could being organized help you to plan an eco-friendly event?  Let me explain.

One thing that I do as a planner is when my clients give me items that they want used at their events, I always make sure to create an itemized list of everything.  Included on this list, is whether or not they want items returned.  In some cases if they no longer want the items and it is something that can be re-used, I'll make arrangements to purchase them from the client.  This helps to ensure that reusable items don't get thrown in the trash.  At the end of the night, it is so easy for people (catering managers, venue employees,etc.) to just toss everything in the trash, instead of having to sort things out. 

Shameless plug:  This is also another good reason to hire a professional planner, because your planner will stay on the scene until the end to ensure that your items are packed up and returned to you!

Proud of My City!

I am a day late with this post, due to my recovery from one of the coolest weekends that I've had in Cleveland EVER!!

Back in the early 90's when Cleveland won the rights to the Rock Hall, people across the country were shocked and appalled by the decision.  They felt that the museum would be better served in New York or Los Angeles.  In 1997, there was the first induction ceremony here in Cleveland.  Personally, I don't remember anything about it, except maybe Michael Jackson came?  I could be wrong.

Fast forward to 12 years later and Cleveland proved why we rock.  From free concerts to special events citywide, my city (that's right it is MY city) showed our visitors a good rocking time!  To top it all off was the Induction Ceremony!  I personally feel it was not too over done and just the right amount of glam.  I shrugged off being ignored by the paparazzi during my red carpet stroll, to enjoy cocktails with all the fabulous people.  Then to dinner and the start of the show.

Joshua Gunter/The Plain Dealer  

In my opinion,get rid of that every 3 year deal and let Cleveland have the induction ceremony here every year!  Cheers to all the wonderful vendors and companies who came to together to put on such a wonderful event!

Cleveland ROCKS!

Eco-Friendly Friday - Threadhead Creations

While conducting one of my many internet searches, I decided to search for eco-friendly wedding dresses.  During my search, I happened upon Threadhead Creations.  This is what their website says about their company:

"Since 1999, Threadhead Creations has offered high quality handcrafted clothing inspired by the natural world around us. We are proud to offer a beautiful collection of dresses in eco-friendly fabrics. This is an exciting time in eco-fashion! Many couples are making the decision to have responsible, green weddings. Wearing natural fibers on your wedding day no longer means sacrificing style. Each dress is made by hand with great attention to detail. You may select an existing dress design or work with us to design a custom gown. "

Now you're thinking that the dresses probably aren't that cute.  Oh, but they are!

 

This is the Audrey, one of their off the rack designs.  Head on over to their website and checkout what they have to offer.  I know you will be pleasantly surprised!

Introducing Jen Terry - Northeast Ohio's Newest Wedding DJ

I have to say that when I met Jen, I was immediately struck by her great personality and knowledge of music.  Add to that, the fact that she is the only female DJ in this area (that I know of) and I immediately wanted to feature her for my loyal readers.

How long have you been a DJ?  6 years

 

What made you decide to be a DJ?
I used to always find myself "playing" DJ at parties. Before I graduated high school I had a CD collection approaching 1,000 discs. Always having a love for music and being diversified to all genres, I decided to invest in sound equipment. After college I began DJing private parties for friends & family. Before I knew it I was upgrading my system & working for myself. I started out with bars and graduation parties & as my business rapidly evolved I expanded my territory. I have been covering everything from weddings to high school dances across Northern Ohio for the past 5 years. Most of all, I cherish the relationships I build with customers. Although they are short lived, I hold a special memory for each & every one.

 

What is your favorite song of all time and why?
Every song can be related to something or someone, and that's one of the characteristics that makes music so special. I really do not have one song that's my favorite, but I absolutely love "New York State of Mind" by Billy Joel. The reason being is my father, a musician, plays this on the piano and it's my favorite song he plays. My opinion may be biased, but it's even better than Billy Joel himself!  You can really feel the emotion through the music, which is what it's all about.

 

Why clients should hire you? 
For 2 simple reasons:

1. I feel I have the ability to read the audience & can sense what is necessary & appropriate. Which is critical to avoid awkward moments & embarrassing mishaps.  This experience qualifies me to make an event memorable.

2. My business is based on referrals alone & that speaks volumes of my service. I ask potential customers to take a moment & consider the importance of a referral. Everyone values the opinion of a friend or family member.............it's a personal guarantee from someone you trust.

To Contact Jen for your wedding, here's her contact information: