Not-So-Big Wedding Recap

The 2010 Not-So-Big Wedding Boutique and Challenge at the beautiful Rockwood Manor in Potomac, MD was a tremendous success and very well attended! The weather was fabulous and the teams did a fantastic job! The scores, which were based on a scale of 1 to 10, were very close.

Congratulations to Team Cinful lead by Cindy Jacobs who took the 1st prize with a total score of 58.50. The 2009 Challenge winner Team Carnevale, led by Janice Carnevale of Bellwether Events took the 2nd prize with a total score of 52.50 and in 3rd place was Team Cannon led by Kelley Cannon of Kelley Cannon Events with a total score of 48.25.

Take a look at some of the highlights!

NSBW 2010!

Rockwood Manor, Potomac MD

The beautiful premises.

Beautiful dresses!

The panel of judges!

The winners - Team Cinful!

2nd place - Team Carnevale                                 3rd place - Team Cannon

The Captains - Team Cannon, Team Cinful, Team Carnevale

All pictures courtesy of Photography by Alexander.

To see more, please visit the event's website. Looking forward to next years' NSBW!

Not-So-Big Wedding 2010

Calling all MD, DC, VA area brides and grooms! Don’t miss out! The Second Annual Not-So-Big Wedding 2010 Challenge is here! This is a FREE event open to the public. RSVP on the Not-So-Big Wedding website for your chance to receive $500 off a venue rental. However, no RSVP is required to attend!

About the Challenge:

12 Teams comprised of up to four vendors will be working together to create a wedding for $15K or less for 65 guests. They are vying for the grand prize -- $500, media spotlight, and the Not-So-Big Wedding Challenge Winner title for 2010. If you're looking to plan a wedding on a budget, this is the event for you! Come see each team's display and gather a wealth of information for your wedding!

Each package created must include all the costs associated in the production of a wedding such as a planner, caterer, Deejay or band, florist, photographer, rentals etc. and must include the rental of one of the Montgomery Parks facilities: Rockwood Manor, Seneca Lodge, Brookside Gardens, Woodlawn Manor, or Ag Farm -- all for under $15K!

Laura Gosse, Marketing Specialist for the Montgomery County Department of Parks event centers said: "The Not-So-Big Wedding is the new reality for many brides and grooms as the effects of the recession continue to play out. However, small does not have to mean plain. The challenge teams' wedding displays will show couples how they can have a wedding day to remember without breaking the bank."

Team Carnavale has returned to defend its title. Eleven other teams will strive to take it away. Come see the results and meet Team Bijou, Team Cannon, Team Centino, Team Cinful, and Team Crazy in Love, Team Forbidden Fruit, Team Intercounty Wedding Connection, Team Jackson, Team Matrimony, Team Show, and Team Williams.

The panel of judges led by Joyce Mnkande of Events2Remember, Inc. includes Denise Thorne of In Style Caterers, Julie Upchurch of Little House of Flowers, Andrew Larris of Andy Kushner Entertainment, Janice Harrison of Occasional Cakes, LLC, Dave Fritz of CORT Event Furnishings, and Carmichael Jennings of On Que Photography. Accompanying them will be live bloggers Amy Regeti and her colleague Srinu of Regeti’s Photography.

This year’s panel of judges represents the different areas within the industry and each judge brings their knowledge and expertise in those areas. Judging criteria will be based on the creative use of given space, creative use of budget, level of elegance and most memorable display.

There will be a fashion show featuring affordable gowns, which can be purchased from St. Anthony's Bridal, a local non-profit whose mission is to help people have an affordable wedding.

So, mark your calendars, come on along, and have lots of fun, food, and refreshments!

Sunday, November 7th, 2010 from 1-4pm at

Rockwood Manor

11001 MacArthur Blvd

Potomac, MD 20854

Google Maps Directions

See you there!

Question of the Day: Posed by Sales Coach Saundra Hadley

"We all know it is important to acquire that client that will not only appreciate your services but reflect your company's brand. But we know that bills come in every month and you can't respond to your electric bill, "Sorry, my target client didn't hire me this month." So, what's a small business , fighting the poor economy and rising expenses to do?"

Her Advice:
1) First be sure you aren't lowering your "brand" standards so much that you are putting yourself and your business in jeopardy.
2) Do not work for free. Do not work for free. Do not work for free.
3) Set clear boundaries and limitations so that you will not be taken advantage of and still make a profit.
And,
4) Know that you are not alone. Not every wedding is dripping with Phalaenopsis orchids and crystals from the ceiling. But it is okay.

I totally agree with Ms. Hadley. This holds true for any event type: be it a corporate, wedding, social or private event and, is even more prevalent in today's economy as budgets are lowered but expectations are still high. So, what is the solution? This is where our expertise and creativity as Special Event Planners comes into play.

Your thoughts?

The Little Black Dress vs. The Little White Dress

We have all heard about the little black dress (LBD) – and for many years, the LBD has been “a must have” in everyone’s closet! It is the perfect dress for any event. It is a sophisticated, timeless classic, is season-less, always in style, and can be dressed down for work or dressed up for a party with very little effort by simply adding the right accessory. It is said to be “slimming” although not ideal for tropical countries as black is known to absorb heat.

However, as of spring 2009, based on the runway collections, we saw that the little white dress (LWD) was gaining on the LBD. It is considered a cool and refreshing summer choice, gives an aura of angelic innocence and on the contrary to many opinions, it can easily be accessorized. The LWD has always received a bad rap because it can be tricky to pull off for many, as it is somewhat revealing, not considered “slimming” and due to its stain-ability.

There are so many possibilities for the LWD, not only as a fashion statement but as a bridal attire option. Here are a couple from The Platinum Collection by Priscilla of Boston:

PL 276

PL 269

So, is the LWD going to be the new LBD? Will it still be around in 2010? I believe that it is just as versatile however… you be the judge:

• Check out these sleek, new LBD options from Neiman Marcus
• Take a look at Amsale's latest LWD collection

and let me know what you think!

November Events

1. November 3rd: I attended a showcase hosted by Heidi Berger of Room Service at the fabulous Long View Gallery Art Museum in Washington, DC. Here are some pictures of the wonderful furniture rentals off of their brand new line!

2. November 4th: I toured the new Sunset Room at the National Harbor in Washington, DC. This is a wonderful venue with some beautiful views -- perfect for a wedding!





3. November 8th: I participated in the Not-So-Big Wedding Competition! The competition was hosted by the Montgomery County Department of Parks & Recreation at the Rockwood Manor in Potomac, Maryland. The challenge was to plan a wedding on a budget -- accommodating 65 guests for less than $15,000. The judge's panel was moderated by Ellen McCarthy of the Washington Post's Wedding Section and panelist included newlyweds who have successfully planned a wedding under $15K. It was a wonderful experience for my entire team, as it was our first competition. Here are some pictures of our table:





I will post more pictures from the competition once I receive the rest from our team photographer!

Enjoy the remainder of your weekend!

October Events

This is another catch-up post, picking up from where I left off after the September Events post. Here's the update from all the events I coordinated and/or attended in October!

1. October 2nd: I collaborated with VMG to plan and produce Total Health Care's 40th Anniversary Fundraiser at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront (BMW). The event theme was Old Hollywood Oscar Night with all the glitz and glamor -- we had actors as paparazzi, Joan Rivers on the Red Carpet, President Obama and First Lady Michelle (complete with a Secret Service detail), and LIVE Oscar statues. It was such a successful and memorable night! The BMW is one of the premier venues in Baltimore, Maryland -- check it out for your next special event! (I'll share additional pictures once I receive them from the photographer).


2. October 6th: I went on a FAM tour to visit all the Prince George's County Parks & Rec venues. I visited Newton Mansion, The PG Ballroom, Oxon Hill Manor, and many more wonderful sites. These venues are rich in history, have beautifully manicured grounds, and are terrific alternatives to typical hotel venues in the Baltimore/Washington area.

I attended a second FAM tour to visit all the Annapolis Area & Anne Arundel County facilities as well. Again, these venues are spectacular and typically more affordable alternatives to hotel venues. They are great venues for weddings, corporate events, and more!

3. October 21st: I went to New York City for the Biz-Bash Trade Show. The event was fabulous! I was able to gain lots of interesting insights on New York venues and vendors for destination events. I also got to see the Bidpal in action -- an innovative tool for those fundraisers!

4. October 22nd: I attended the Harvest Festival Event at the Strathmore in Rockville, Maryland. This is another unique space to consider for your next event. The Mansion and the Art Center are fabulous sites!


5. October 29th: I wanted to share some pictures from my DC ISES Halloween Party. It was held at the National Crime and Punishment Museum in Washington, DC -- how appropriate a venue for the occasion! The hauted house was amazing and truly scary for those of us who scare easily. It was a blast! By the way, that's me in the jailbird costume!

6. October 30th: I attended a very emotional speaking event by motivational speaker The Scary Guy; and yes, "Scary Guy" is his legal name! His speech was absolutely phenomenal and I had to stuggle to fight back some tears. He is truly passionate about his cause -- bullying, violence, and hate crimes among youth -- which we all need to be ambassadors to. Please take a moment to visit his website: www.thescaryguy.com

7. October 31st: Halloween! Here are some family Trick-or-Treating photos I couldn't resist sharing!


Next, I'll post my events from early November and I'll have you all caught up!

9/9/09 Weddings

A couple's wedding date typically has great significance to them. Here's an interesting read from the Manolo for the Brides blog on couples who got married a couple of weeks ago on 9/9/09 and incorporated the date into their theme... to the extreme!

99-Cent Store Wedding via Manolo for the Brides blog.

Planning a Special Event on a Budget

During these tough economic times, many of my clients ask me how they can save money without sacrificing style. They all want that fabulous event without breaking the bank! Although this topic has been covered many times before by other industry bloggers, I believe that during these tough times, there is even more reason to revisit them. So, here are some budget-saving tips and suggestions to take into consideration!

1. The first and most important thing to consider is the venue. After all, the venue sets the tone for the entire event! Even more than before, I find that when I visit various venues with my clients, the following is suggested: for evening weddings and other events -- try a weeknight, as venues often offer discounted rates for these times. This also holds true for most other vendors -- caterers, DJs and/or bands, florists, etc.
   
   
2. Consider the time of your event! Go for a daytime wedding and offer a brunch or luncheon instated of a more costly traditional sit-down dinner. Venues will often have cheaper rates for say, Sunday afternoons, instead of Saturday evenings!
   
   
3. Offer a nice chicken or vegetarian dish instead of a more expensive beef or lamb dish. Many caterers now have many fancy and delicious alternatives to more expensive meats.
   
   
4. For a wedding, birthday or other social event where cake is to be served, consider cupcakes or pre-cut slices of cake so none goes to waste. A good idea is to serve the cupcakes or cake slices in a box, which can double as your favor instead of candy or almonds.
   
   
5. Instead of an open bar, offer a signature cocktail and serve sparkling wine instead of champagne.
   
   
6. In regards to entertainment, hire a DJ instead of a band.
   
   
7. For centerpieces, use small containers filled tight with inexpensive flowers like carnations and babies breath with candles in between the arrangement, or forgoe the flowers altogether!
   
   
8. Use smaller tables to seat your guests! And for cocktails, intersperse a few high boys around the room with a small candle or centerpiece for decoration.
   
   
9. DIY, DIY, DIY! -- or, "Do It Yourself!" Consider homemade inviations, putting your favors together yourself, homemade centerpieces, etc. Let your imagination and creativity guide you.

I hope these tips any many more like them will be of use to you while you plan your special event!