5.03.2011
Blog is now "An Event-Full Life"
Hello All, Just wanted to leave a short explanation on the recent face-lift for the blog. The blog will now encompass more of my personal life as well as my work life and hopefully also an occasional rant or insight on life in general. I have some exciting things to share with my blog fans - all 3 of you ;-) about some new developments in my world. But not yet.... More to come soon! Until then, please be sure to update your blog feed for our new address - http://event-full-life.blogspot.com
2.10.2011
T'town Has a Sweet Tooth
There's a new store in Tuscaloosa and although it only sells one thing - the line has been out the door every day since it opened 3 weeks ago. What's got the whole town talking? It's Gigi's Cupcakes - a cupcake boutique that sells different flavors of cupcakes each day of the week. In this fast-paced world where businesses are trying to anticipate and meet every need of their client, Gigi's has focused on just one thing and it seems to be working.
I got to experience Gigi's for the first time last year at their Huntsville branch. I was so excited about my cupcake, called the Miss Princess, with it's pretty pink cake, towering icing, topped with a little pink crown and sparkly sprinkles - that I took a picture of it and shared my excitement with my Facebook friends. So I'm not surprised that other visitors to the store are just as excited to spread the word.
I still, however, was not prepared for the scene when I visited the Tuscaloosa store last Saturday. The store, located in the new Midtown Village, is tucked right in the heart of the shopping center. The line of cars swirling around the parking lot, and the circles it took for us to find a parking spot should have clued me in. Here's my pic of what the store looked like from the outside. Inside, patrons had thoughtfully cued up in an S pattern to fit as many people as possible into the space. Thankfully, I never had to squeeze inside, because my brother-in-law and niece were our 'men on the inside' making the deal to get our sweet treats for the rest of the family. My sister and I waited patiently in the cold and chatted it up with the other people debating whether a half hour wait was worth it for what might be the tastiest cupcake they've had to date.
Was it worth it? Of course it was! But I definitely have a soft spot for sweets. Take a look at today's menu and you'll learn why Tuscaloosa just can't resist -
Read more about the cupcake phenomenon and see an interview with store owner at WVUA's news page - http://wvuatv.com/content/gigis-cupcakes. Find out more about Gigi's Cupcakes and all of their locations on their website at http://www.gigiscupcakesusa.com
1.25.2011
FTB Announces New Planner Program
In today's market, the corporate planner probably has a different title. Whether they are in Human Resources, Administration, or just happened to 'volunteer' to coordinate the next company event, I can guarantee you it's not the only thing on their "To Do" list.
Feel the Beat knows that our planners have busy schedules and a lot on their plate, leaving little time to battle with the details of upcoming events. With this in mind, we have created a Corporate Planner Program to assist our clients in planning great events quickly! Sign up for our monthly Ezine to get tips on event planning like the newest event trends, local venue reviews, vendor spotlights, and advice on how to plan a great event on a budget.
We can also offer more detailed assistance in planning a timeline for events, finding the best vendor for your needs, negotiating contracts, and reaching company goals through creative entertainment options. The difference between a good event and a great event is professional coordination and detailed planning. With Feel the Beat's Planner Program, you can plan the event that you have always wanted without investing hours of your day and pushing other priorities to the side. Plus, you can contact our Corporate Event Consultant, Lindsey Mason, for any questions or additional assistance. We are here to help and would like to be of assistance to you in any way that we can.
Feel the Beat knows that our planners have busy schedules and a lot on their plate, leaving little time to battle with the details of upcoming events. With this in mind, we have created a Corporate Planner Program to assist our clients in planning great events quickly! Sign up for our monthly Ezine to get tips on event planning like the newest event trends, local venue reviews, vendor spotlights, and advice on how to plan a great event on a budget.We can also offer more detailed assistance in planning a timeline for events, finding the best vendor for your needs, negotiating contracts, and reaching company goals through creative entertainment options. The difference between a good event and a great event is professional coordination and detailed planning. With Feel the Beat's Planner Program, you can plan the event that you have always wanted without investing hours of your day and pushing other priorities to the side. Plus, you can contact our Corporate Event Consultant, Lindsey Mason, for any questions or additional assistance. We are here to help and would like to be of assistance to you in any way that we can.
Follow Lindsey on Twitter: @FTBEvents
12.09.2010
Post-Wedding Advice from a Birmingham Bride
As a bride you get a lot of advice from a lot of people. I appreciate all the information that people are willing to share with me about tips for planning a great wedding but I don't think there's much that can compare to the advice from a bride that has just gone through all of it herself! I am friends with a former coworker, Lauren, on Facebook, who just married the love of her life on September 25th. After sufficiently stalking her page throughout her planning and flipping through all of her gorgeous wedding photos, I decided to give her a call and find out firsthand what she had learned from planning a wedding. Lauren is super-easy to talk to and was happy to answer my barrage of questions about what happened throughout the planning of her Big Day.
First I started with the basics. Which vendors did she use and in what order did she book them?
Her first decision started with the venue. She chose the historic Tutwiler Hotel for the ceremony and reception. She fell in love with their beautiful veranda out front and decided that she would have the ceremony outside with the reception in the ballroom. Food and beverage would be handled by the Tutwiler so there was no need for coordination between the venue and the caterer, which let her focus on other things.
Next she decided on her photographer, His Hands Photography, then the entertainment, the band Nationwide Coverage out of Huntsville, and also her florist, Tracy Sloan out of Warrior, AL. These vendors were referred to her by friends and family and they ended up all being good choices. Word of mouth referral is a great way to find good, reputable vendors. Your wedding day is not a day you want to be disappointed with one of your choices.
After much debate and research, Lauren ended up finding her gown at Bella Couture in Mt. Laurel. She had fallen in love with a Jim Helm design but the price just didn't fit with her budget. Lauren, however, was not deterred by this small obstacle, she searched and scoured gowns until she found a similar dress by designer, Allure Couture, that was a better price but still stunningly gorgeous.
The next decision would be the cakes, except that neither Lauren or her fiancee were big fans of cake. However, they are big cupcake fans, and Olexa's Cakes just happens to be a fan of BIG cupcakes! Olexa designed a specialty, oversized cupcake for them to share for the cake-cutting and then provided a variety of flavors of normal-sized cupcakes for guests to choose their favorite. I loved that the couple weren't afraid to veer a little from tradition, to provide an option that better fit their personality. Weddings have lots of tradition, but it's the special touches and detail that really make it personal.
Last but not least they booked a vintage car through Coats Classic Cars and got assistance from wedding planner, Ouida Jones-Johnson, for the day-of coordination. Lauren ended up having great luck with all of her vendors but the band, photographer, and the cupcake really stood out to her. The giant cupcake was so original and too delicious not to love! The guitarist from the band was able to provide music for the ceremony as well, at a better deal since they were already booked for the reception. And her photographer went above and beyond throughout the day which is so important because they are with you from the morning until that night!
So, after asking her about all of the things that went well, I asked if she had any regrets. Without hesitation, she said that she wished she had been more prepared for Plan B. It was not that she didn't have a plan set in place, but just that she had her heart set on the outdoor veranda for the ceremony and when rain started moving in, so did the stress. I have certainly encountered this dilemma with other weddings before, and it even affected my own wedding planning when choosing a venue. If you are planning an outdoor wedding, there is always a risk of having to move indoors. And when it really comes down to it, you have to love the Rain Plan and be prepared for a last-minute change.
 |
| His Hands Photography stated that "Just as the outdoor wedding was starting, the rain started to fall. You would think that would be a bad thing but the most beautiful part of the day was how all the friends and family came together, doing whatever they could to make the ceremony absolutely perfect. The rabbi made a chuppah, people volunteered to hold it, friends carried everything inside... and made one of the sweetest most thoughtful ceremonies I have ever been witness to...THIS is why I love my job! |
Handling last minute changes is really easier said than done but Lauren handled it in stride. She knew that her nerves were building and wanted to do what she could to make sure that stress didn't rule the day. She called in a Zumba instructor and she and her bridesmaids spent the morning having fun and burning off nervous energy. I think this such a great idea and I plan to steal it for myself! Stress relief will vary for each bride, but whatever you choose, make sure to add things to the day's schedule to make sure that you are relaxed and smiling for whatever may come your way! This will be one of the most documented days of your life and any 'issues' that occur can all wait to be addressed the following week. Her final advice - Enjoy your day!
11.24.2010
Planning a Wedding: First Lesson Learned
Okay, so you may have noticed that it's been a while since my last post. It's not that I haven't had interesting things to tell you about in my planning, it's just that I was too embarrassed to put it all in writing! Already, I have had a major reality check in my planning process. Yes, I have experience in the event industry, but maybe all that was doing was giving me a false sense of security.
When Mark & I got engaged at the end of July and set our date for next fall, I immediately was comforted that I had over a year to plan everything. Well, instead of taking advantage of the additional time, I gathered a little bit of information and researched different venues - but it was not enough. We set a date for our big event, checked some availability of places, and then went to the drawing board on what would work for our needs:
-Is there enough space?
-Is it convenient for guests to locate and get to?
-Do they allow candles, alcohol, outside catering, and any of the other details that are 'make or break' in the decision-making process?
So, we gathered this information, made our decision and called the venue of our choice back with the exciting news! Well guess what...it had been two months since I had originally checked their availability and now - the date was booked. This was pretty tough news, since we had already told all of our friends and family that the date was set and now we would need to either go back to the drawing board to choose another venue, or move the date. Neither was an easy option!
We ended up needing to be armed with more information than I had researched yet. If we use outside catering, will they provide linens and glassware? How much will it add to rent these items? Will the rental price of the venue really be a deal if I have to rent to supplement a lot of items? Who provides what and at what price? I realized that to start planning anything, I needed to know a lot more about everything.
Suddenly I felt like I knew nothing about the wedding industry. Where was all my knowledge of budgets and why was everything in Birmingham booking up when we were still 12 months out?!? Panic started to set in and I knew I needed to move a little faster if I wanted to get the vendors that I liked at the right price for my budget.
So my advice to you is - talk to every vendor that you like - and start early. Don't be afraid to call and chat with vendors about what you are looking for and be sure to get pricing from all of them! Knowing as much as possible is going to give you the power and confidence to make better decisions. Start collecting as much information at the beginning as you possibly can, so that you can make an educated decision - and make it quickly if you are under a deadline. And of course, set your budget, and try to make room for a professional planner to help you. Even though I feel comfortable planning events, it's all changed now that it's my wedding and I'm the bride. Why didn't I believe this when everyone has said it? It's so much easier to help someone else plan an event! So be sure to enlist help early and don't procrastinate!
When Mark & I got engaged at the end of July and set our date for next fall, I immediately was comforted that I had over a year to plan everything. Well, instead of taking advantage of the additional time, I gathered a little bit of information and researched different venues - but it was not enough. We set a date for our big event, checked some availability of places, and then went to the drawing board on what would work for our needs:
-Is there enough space?
-Is it convenient for guests to locate and get to?
-Do they allow candles, alcohol, outside catering, and any of the other details that are 'make or break' in the decision-making process?
So, we gathered this information, made our decision and called the venue of our choice back with the exciting news! Well guess what...it had been two months since I had originally checked their availability and now - the date was booked. This was pretty tough news, since we had already told all of our friends and family that the date was set and now we would need to either go back to the drawing board to choose another venue, or move the date. Neither was an easy option!
We ended up needing to be armed with more information than I had researched yet. If we use outside catering, will they provide linens and glassware? How much will it add to rent these items? Will the rental price of the venue really be a deal if I have to rent to supplement a lot of items? Who provides what and at what price? I realized that to start planning anything, I needed to know a lot more about everything.
Suddenly I felt like I knew nothing about the wedding industry. Where was all my knowledge of budgets and why was everything in Birmingham booking up when we were still 12 months out?!? Panic started to set in and I knew I needed to move a little faster if I wanted to get the vendors that I liked at the right price for my budget.
So my advice to you is - talk to every vendor that you like - and start early. Don't be afraid to call and chat with vendors about what you are looking for and be sure to get pricing from all of them! Knowing as much as possible is going to give you the power and confidence to make better decisions. Start collecting as much information at the beginning as you possibly can, so that you can make an educated decision - and make it quickly if you are under a deadline. And of course, set your budget, and try to make room for a professional planner to help you. Even though I feel comfortable planning events, it's all changed now that it's my wedding and I'm the bride. Why didn't I believe this when everyone has said it? It's so much easier to help someone else plan an event! So be sure to enlist help early and don't procrastinate!
8.27.2010
The Dress Search
I finally won something!!! I entered to win free tickets to the Brides Against Cancer gown sale through the Green Bride Guide.com and I actually won!
The Green Bride Guide is a resource I found while looking for ideas on how to make weddings more environmentally friendly. With an average of 2.2 million weddings a year in the United States alone, the impact of these events is huge! As a member of the wedding industry, I wanted to stay knowledgeable in the best ways to reduce that impact. So when my mom found the information on the Brides Against Cancer event, I was definitely intrigued!
Brides Against Cancer provides brides-to-be with an opportunity to find their dream gown while making wishes and dreams come true for women and men who are battling breast cancer. The money that they raise from the gown sales is donated to Making Memories who then grant wishes for people battling Stage 4 cancer.
The cause is something very close to my heart since my fiancee, Mark, has a sister that has fought and won her battle against breast cancer. We have run in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on her Miracle Michelle team for the past two years and will be running again this year in October!
Finding a dress that is not only eco-friendly but also raises money and awareness for a great cause was really an amazing opportunity in my eyes. And to win free tickets to the VIP night just made it all too good to be true! So last Friday, my mother & I made the trek up to the Embassy Suites in Huntsville to check out the selection. We were greeted with some information from local wedding vendors, a selection of hors d'oeuvres, and a beautiful and moving slideshow of some of the breast cancer survivors that the organization has worked with over the years.
We really had no idea what to expect, even though the website had said there would be hundreds of dresses. I was not disappointed! We looked through several racks, organized by size, of designer gowns, many of which had been donated new or after model shows from the designers themselves - even some Vera Wang! Although it was only my second week of bridal gown shopping, I had a pretty clear idea of the styles that I liked and found several to try on. The ladies at the event were all volunteers from the local wedding community and they were so sweet and helpful! They did a great job of helping me and made the experience really fun.
There certainly was one dress that I stayed in much longer than the others. It just so happened to fit me like a glove right off the hanger! I debated it quite a bit, changed into other dresses, then put it back on. The dress was silky taffeta with rhinestone accents highlighting an empire waistline. The stones had an antique look to them and I fell in love with the way that they coordinated with my antique engagement ring! The thought of finding this beautiful dress and getting to take it home - no waiting! - was very exciting. But to be able to find such a gorgeous dress that reduces my impact on the environment while also supporting such a wonderful cause really made this the dream dress! I decided that it was definitely 'THE ONE'!
8.10.2010
First Things First - Getting Started on Planning for a Wedding
Even though I work with a variety of events on a daily basis, knowing where to start with my own wedding planning was still a bit overwhelming. The real 'start' were conversations that Mark & I have had in the past about how we would like our wedding to feel. What do we want our guests to see and experience? What do we really want to focus on and what themes are important to us? We started with those preferences which included - incorporating our love for the outdoors and respect for the environment, an intimate and personal feel, nice weather in Alabama, and conveniences like having the ceremony & reception in the same location - and started from there to build our "wedding vision". I feel like it was really important to discuss these basics before we got into the nitty-gritty of the who, what, when, where, and of course, how, so we could come back to them if things started to get off-track.
Next, we started exploring the insane amount of resources available to brides. There is a lot of information available online but I would also suggest visiting or calling any vendor that interests you to get more comprehensive and personalized information based on your specific needs. I'll be honest - I'm an avid internet researcher and I know a lot of brides do their legwork online but websites don't always do the best job of getting the right information across to the bride. I'm also a big fan of perusing the aisles of the bookstore or library for anything that catches my eye!
Want to make it easy from the get-go? Talk to a professional event planner! These people are unbelievable resources of information! There are different levels of planning assistance, so don't feel like a planner has to have control over the entire weekend. These event experts can save you a lot of time and money by letting you know what will work and what doesn't and who is the best vendor to make it happen! (I'll do another post soon on planners in the Birmingham area.)
Let's note here that a wedding can be as simple or as detailed as your prefer it to be. If you start to get overwhelmed with all of the options, then the process is no longer fun, and it may be time to go back to the basics. Enjoy this experience as much as possible - hopefully this is the only time you'll be planning a wedding! But if nothing seems to be working out, just breathe - at the end of the day you will still be wed to the one you love!
Resources for Brides and Grooms:
I really love the idea behind the Engaged! Library by Perfect Wedding Guide. This is an actual location in Homewood where they have samples and idea books from hundreds of different vendors for you to look through. Green Bonus: Less driving around town and wasting gas! Just keep in mind, that while there is plenty to look through, not every vendor in town is showcased at the Engaged! Library.
**PRO Tip: Not everyone who picks up a camera, or a flower, or a microphone is a wedding professional but there are plenty of people who will say they are! Do your research and get referrals before signing a contract with a vendor, especially if their pricing is much lower than others. Your wedding day is NOT the day you want to get what you pay for!!
Professional organizations are a great way to find reputable vendors. Each wedding industry - florists, photographers, bakers - all have their own certifications and organizations that will help you know who has the real credentials. Also, for a local source, check out www.ALWEP.com - this is a group of event professionals in Alabama that have plenty of experience making wedding dreams come true!
Print:
Birmingham Bridal Directory, Tuscaloosa Bridal Directory, North Alabama Bridal Directory, etc.
Perfect Wedding Guide
Online:
FindAlabamaWeddingVendors
Alabama Bridal.com
Green Bride Guide
Blogs (like this one!) and endless online resources
Bridal Shows:
Southern Bridal Show, Perfect Wedding Guide, or just search for one in your area
Podcasts:
Get Real! with Alabama Wedding Vendors - interviews about wedding planning with local wedding vendors
Once you find a vendor that you like and trust, ask for their recommendations of other vendors based on your needs. These professionals work together every weekend and they see how events come together (or not) firsthand.
Next, we started exploring the insane amount of resources available to brides. There is a lot of information available online but I would also suggest visiting or calling any vendor that interests you to get more comprehensive and personalized information based on your specific needs. I'll be honest - I'm an avid internet researcher and I know a lot of brides do their legwork online but websites don't always do the best job of getting the right information across to the bride. I'm also a big fan of perusing the aisles of the bookstore or library for anything that catches my eye!
Want to make it easy from the get-go? Talk to a professional event planner! These people are unbelievable resources of information! There are different levels of planning assistance, so don't feel like a planner has to have control over the entire weekend. These event experts can save you a lot of time and money by letting you know what will work and what doesn't and who is the best vendor to make it happen! (I'll do another post soon on planners in the Birmingham area.)
Let's note here that a wedding can be as simple or as detailed as your prefer it to be. If you start to get overwhelmed with all of the options, then the process is no longer fun, and it may be time to go back to the basics. Enjoy this experience as much as possible - hopefully this is the only time you'll be planning a wedding! But if nothing seems to be working out, just breathe - at the end of the day you will still be wed to the one you love!
Resources for Brides and Grooms:
I really love the idea behind the Engaged! Library by Perfect Wedding Guide. This is an actual location in Homewood where they have samples and idea books from hundreds of different vendors for you to look through. Green Bonus: Less driving around town and wasting gas! Just keep in mind, that while there is plenty to look through, not every vendor in town is showcased at the Engaged! Library.
**PRO Tip: Not everyone who picks up a camera, or a flower, or a microphone is a wedding professional but there are plenty of people who will say they are! Do your research and get referrals before signing a contract with a vendor, especially if their pricing is much lower than others. Your wedding day is NOT the day you want to get what you pay for!!
Professional organizations are a great way to find reputable vendors. Each wedding industry - florists, photographers, bakers - all have their own certifications and organizations that will help you know who has the real credentials. Also, for a local source, check out www.ALWEP.com - this is a group of event professionals in Alabama that have plenty of experience making wedding dreams come true!
Print:
Birmingham Bridal Directory, Tuscaloosa Bridal Directory, North Alabama Bridal Directory, etc.
Perfect Wedding Guide
Local Magazines:
Books:
Hmm... I need to do more research on this one!
Online:
FindAlabamaWeddingVendors
Alabama Bridal.com
Green Bride Guide
Martha Stewart Weddings - I <3 their daily inspiration emails!
The KnotBlogs (like this one!) and endless online resources
Bridal Shows:
Southern Bridal Show, Perfect Wedding Guide, or just search for one in your area
Podcasts:
Get Real! with Alabama Wedding Vendors - interviews about wedding planning with local wedding vendors
Once you find a vendor that you like and trust, ask for their recommendations of other vendors based on your needs. These professionals work together every weekend and they see how events come together (or not) firsthand.
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