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My blog has moved to my website!!!

Come on down to www.CherishedCelebrations.com for all the info!

Thanks for visiting!

Candy Buffet

So you've decided to do a candy buffet for your wedding reception. Take a big, big hint from Cherished Celebrations and many other wedding planners... hire someone to do it for you! When you think about 150 (just an average number) of people taking candy, do you know how many pounds of each candy to get? Do you know how many types of candy to get? Do you know where you can go for the freshest candy at the least price in the right colors?

I'd bet the answer is no. You also must, I'll say it again, must have an attendant. If not, Uncle Bob will take 4 pounds of chocolate covered espresso beans and your bowl will be empty for 30 minutes before your friend who promised they'd help notices it. Those of us who like to do the candy buffets (and there are many wedding planners who won't touch them with a 10 foot pole!!!) know how to gently suggest that Uncle Bob leave some of the $10.00 a pound items for other guests. You can even have the attendant serve your guest, ensuring an even distribution.

The picture above is from the Apex, North Carolina Chamber of Commerce Expo. I designed this buffet for the Womens Business Owners Network of Cary. It was incredibly well received and people loved it! I was the attendant for the first 2 hours, but there were other people there for the remainder of the expo.

What did they run out of while I was gone?

Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans.

Have a great day!

Catherine

The Happy Dance!

Before you started planning your wedding did you ever have a time when a simple linen sample could make you jump up and down and squeal with excitement? I'd bet the answer is no. At least since you started having birthdays in double digits!

I can't stop smiling since this morning when I showed one of my brides a sample I found this weekend. She was so happy because it was just right for her.

That is absolutely one of the biggest reasons I plan events. I love to make people happy! When you look for a wedding planner, ask them why they decided to do what they do? A lot of people say they love weddings - which is true - but what is underneath that statement. Do they like to organize? Do they like to coordinate? Or do they like making people happy?

There is a big difference. I hope your wedding planner likes to make people happy!

Brides Against Breast Cancer Recap and Info

If you’re getting married, and you’re a bride, you’ll need a dress of some sort, right? It’s one of the few things that usually remain a surprise for the groom and mothers, sisters, and bridesmaids actually like helping the bride find the perfect dress! So, in late February, many brides chose to find their dresses at a special charity gown sale sponsored by the North Carolina Branch of the Association of Bridal Consultants. ***Spoiler Alert*** Pictures from the weekend are below, so check for your picture before sharing with your fiancé!

In space generously donated for our use by the Wyndham Hotel Raleigh Durham, hundreds of dresses awaited their perfect bride. The best part of this sale is that all proceeds went to grant wishes of men and women with Stage IV breast cancer. With the fabulous staff from the Making Memories Foundation and Brides Against Breast Cancer, we raised about $20,000 through our gown sale!

There was also a small show to introduce some wedding vendors to the brides that attended. Some of those vendors were:

Trendy Heels to Totes **An ABC Member!!

Bowties and Lace/d’essence **An ABC Member!!

Celebration Photobooth

Carolina Cake Company

Wyndham Hotel Raleigh Durham

Without the help from the following Association of Bridal Consultants members from North Carolina who generously donated their time volunteering before and during our sale, we would not have been successful – so thank you!!

Catherine Katz - Cherished Celebrations

Veronica Foster - Behind the Scenes, Inc.

Thomasina Whitley - Bowties and Lace

Carol Lassiter - Beautiful Details Wedding Consulting

Veronica Nelson - Weddings 2Day, Events 2Morrow

Jolaine Hjardemaal - Remarkable Celebrations

Malika Becton – Weddings of Grace

andAlex Newton – Alex Newton Photography -- with an extra special thanks for all the wonderful pictures of this fantastic weekend!

We’re planning another gown sale for next year, keep us in mind for either buying your gown, donating your old wedding dress, or volunteering at this event! It will be held Friday, February 5 through Sunday February 7 at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel. More gowns, more events, lots of fun and for a great cause!

Oops...

Well, despite the best intentions, when you get involved with lots of local events and the crazy part of the year (for me) with volunteering, my blog has kind of gotten left behind.

That's not to say I haven't had excellent ideas - upcoming posts will be really good! - but I just haven't had time to write them. And, honestly, I think my clients have appreciated that I was actually working on their events!

Anyway, I'm still here and still working. I will post tomorrow with a BABC update - next year is rolling along - and then we'll get back to business. I'm not going to stick to my original plan (things can and do change, right?!?) so I'll be blogging about things I hear, things I read, and things I'm asked.

I'm excited to share some new things I've learned and can't wait to continue!

Thanks!

Catherine

Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale

This is usually the day I write about a Planning Kickstart – but today I want to let you all know about a fantastic opportunity to help a great organization!

This weekend, February 28 and March 1, there is a Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale at the Wyndham Hotel RTP. Come down and find a designer dress, pay 25% of retail, and help individuals with stage IV breast cancer.

If you would like to register for the Power Hours – which is a limited entrance for the first look at the gowns – please follow this link {REGISTER}.

Hope to see you all there!

Catherine

Planning Kickstart – Lights!

First, so sorry I missed last week. Sometimes, getting well trumps blogging, but I hope not very often! So, back to what I actually adore doing – planning and talking about events! One of my favorite things that can be done on a budget is lighting. You don’t have to hire a lighting designer (but if you have the money, please do so) to plan and create some truly beautiful lighting.

I love lit tables at events, but I’m not a really big fan of open flame. So many places have so many restrictions on candles and how they can be used, sometimes it is just easier to plan for lighting with different sources of illumination. Now, don’t get me wrong, candlelight is stunning, and used in hurricanes or bowls, I can and do still use it. One of my favorite places to look for lighting ideas is Save On Crafts {http://www.save-on-crafts.com/}. They have the coolest selection of LED and glow lighting I have found, and their prices are really good, too. Just look at the pictures from them below.

I love the glowing look from these lights. I have used them before and people think they are absolutely beautiful. You can combine them with candlelight as well, as shown in the large Brandy Snifter picture. Some of the lights are also submersible in water, so you can use them with fresh flowers, too. Look in Celebrate!’s top pictures for a sample!

Whatever you do with your tabletops and centerpieces, don’t forget how powerful simple lighting can be – and it doesn’t have to break the bank, either!

Catherine

Inspiration Board Thursday!

Love the Blues!

Not just for beach weddings, but the cool hues do lend themselves beautifully to sandy settings. I LOVE bottles as décor!

Photo credits clockwise from upper left: Bottle Tablescape, Allison Rosa via Brides {http://www.brides.com/}; Tablesetting, Luca Trovato via Brides {http://www.brides.com/}; Bottles, Dominique Vorillion via Brides {http://www.brides.com/}; Invitation Set, Carlson Craft {http://www.carlsoncraft.com/}; Bouquet, Luca Trovato via Brides {http://www.brides.com/}; Shell Cake, Allison Rosa via Brides {http://www.brides.com/}; Favors, Dominique Vorillion via Brides {http://www.brides.com/}; Flower Cart, Dominique Vorillion via Brides {http://www.brides.com/}; Blue Inspirations, Martha Stewart Weddings {http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/}; Seashell Placecards, Martha Stewart Weddings {http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/}; Candy Buffet, Allison Rosa via Brides {http://www.brides.com/}; Ice Vodka Bar, Allison Rosa via Brides {http://www.brides.com/}.

What do you like best?

Catherine

Registry and Gifts – Registry Tips

When you are selecting someplace to register for gifts, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Number one, make sure wherever you select is where your guests live. Some stores are regionally based. The internet has made this less of an issue, but, if you have older people who would be attending your wedding, a brick and mortar store may be more comfortable for them. I still like to see and touch gifts I give, too!

Another thing to remember and any good registry will tell you this as well, is to have items in all price ranges. Some people may not be able to afford a larger gift, but still want to get you something nice that you will use. A great way to accommodate guests of all budget ranges is to have more than one registry. First and foremost, select stores that you LOVE. I say this because these gifts will probably be with you for a long time and you need to really like what you pick. You can certainly add some things that are trendy or fun, but if you stick with classics, you can’t go wrong!

Now, that’s not to say don’t put your personal style into your choices. If you are modern, please don’t select traditional tableware. Let’s look at some classic traditional pieces and some classic modern pieces – and that’s not impossible!

The classic table settings are all available at Belk {http://www.belk.com/} and the more contemporary pieces are available at Crate and Barrel {http://www.crateandbarrel.com/}.

We’ll look at some more places for your registry and ideas that the “wedding” magazines don’t necessarily give you in some future posts.

So, now tell me – what is your favorite item you received as a gift?

Catherine

Etiquette Matters – Food Questions

Food. What most people will remember from your event – whether it be a finger foods reception to a four course meal, people will talk about what they eat. If they don’t like it, they’ll talk about it even more! While you can’t please everyone all the time, there are some things you can do to help ensure your guests have a wonderful time and enjoy the food at your reception.

Let’s answer two questions today that come up pretty frequently regarding food. Photo: Martha Stewart Weddings {http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/}

1. “I’m having lots of children at the wedding and reception. Do I have to feed them the same food everyone else gets?” The answer to this one is a resounding “it depends.” If your menu is kid-friendly, then you certainly may choose to do just that. Many caterers will provide a special children’s menu for your event. A plus is that the food usually costs less than the meals they are providing for your other guests. A big downside to them (in my opinion) is that you are then paying $15.00 for mac and cheese. And, if you’re having a buffet, many parents will just feed their children from that because they can pick and choose for them. Ask your caterer if they will discount your regular food for the children. If you plan appropriately- a buffet is great for this- you should have something that they would like to eat (or at least eat if they’re hungry!).
   
   
2. “Do I need to feed my vendors?” My answer to this one is absolutely yes. Not only because I am a vendor, but because we (all wedding vendors) are there for several hours and need to eat at some point. This isn’t as big a question as it has been in the past, but with everyone so budget conscious, I want to make sure you don’t cut this as part of your belt tightening. You want to make sure that your vendors are fed, but you don’t have to provide them the same meal as your guests. While it is very nice and I have never been fed anything other than what the other guests have been served , you can choose to serve a lesser priced meal to them. One thing I feel very strongly about, though, is that a table be reserved for the vendors at your reception. Even if it is out of the way, we do need a place to eat!

As always, I’d love to hear what you think.

Catherine

Planning Kickstart - Monograms

When you are thinking about your wedding and reception, it can be very helpful to create your overall theme design around one central element. It could be a flower, a vase, a picture, pretty much anything that will allow you to incorporate elements from that particular item into your décor and design. One of the elements that is used a lot today – but it is still, by its very nature a unique element for each and every person – is the monogram.

As early as your save the date and invitation, you can incorporate monograms into as many pieces of your event as you would like. Your veil can even be monogrammed! For an upcoming wedding, a bride and groom of mine have selected a beautiful and simple invitation with a first initial monogram in the corner. Their favors, napkins, and programs will also showcase their monogram. We’re even going a little farther with elements at their “Afterparty” that will bring the monogram full circle.

I found these monograms on Etsy. {http://www.etsy.com/} If you haven’t looked, just let me say that there are so many creative people in this world that really create striking handmade items. You need to go to Etsy! The beautiful work below is created by Sticky Graffiti. {http://www.stickygraffiti.etsy.com/} These are handmade vinyl monograms for your walls. Take a look:

My favorite is, of course, the Celebrate one! I do love the look of the watermark letter behind names, though. Imagine the wall of your reception with this beautiful monogram! Be sure you check into the rules at your facility before you decide to use it! This gives a beautiful and classic touch to your reception without breaking the bank – how budget friendly!!

I’m always on the lookout for any items like this, so if you see something you like, please let me know!

And, for fun, tell me how you used monograms at your wedding!

Catherine

Fun Friday!

Fun Friday!

This wasn’t what I had planned, but it’s too fun to pass up!

If you haven’t seen Southern Weddings Magazine {http://www.swsmag.net/}, you’re really missing something!

Right now, on their blog, they have a little contest going on with pictures that were submitted by readers with the premiere issue of the magazine. They are asking their readers to vote for the one they like best. The top 5 vote getters will win *fabulous prizes* - including a Flip video camera!

So, I know there are some other really great pics to vote for, but mine is number 10. I would love it if you could vote for me so I could possibly win a prize! You can only vote once, so choose carefully!

To vote, go to this link {http://www.swsmag.net/blog/2009/1/31/flippin-out-for-southern-weddings.html} and post a comment saying which picture you like. Voting ends Thursday, February 5, so vote soon!

Thanks, and have a great weekend!

Catherine

Lynzi and Drew - Soft Green and White

It’s Inspiration Board Thursday!

Like most of you, I love looking at inspiration boards and seeing what others visions of weddings are like. I put them together for fun, but today I am posting an inspiration board that I put together for a fantastic couple, Lynzi and Drew. I will actually revise this board in a couple of weeks now that I have a better feel for their thoughts and vision, but this is still a great representation of their ideas.

Photo Credits Clockwise from Upper Left:

Cake, Lifelong Love from Publix Bakery {www.publix.com} ; Bottles, Alison Rosa, Brides via {www.brides.com}; Tablecloth and Basket, Miki Duisterhof, Modern Bride via {www.brides.com}; Flower Girl Bucket, Roland Omoresemi Banfii Photography via The Knot {www.theknot.com}; Pew Buckets, Martha Stewart Weddings {www.marthastewartsweddings.com}; Cake Trio, Miki Duisterhof, Modern Bride via {www.brides.com ; Names on Fabric, Cherished Celebrations {www.cherishedcelebrations.com}; Standing Galvanized Bucket, Walmart via {www.walmart.com}; Bucket of Sunflowers, Kelley Photo and Design via The Knot {www.theknot.com}; Monogrammed Veil, Kristina Eaton Ltd {www.kristinaeatonltd.com}; Pencil and Notebook, Miki Duisterhof, Modern Bride via {www.brides.com}.

I’m so looking forward to sharing more inspiration boards with you in the future! I’d love to see yours, too, so send me links!

Catherine

Registry and Gifting - The Girls' Gifts!

At your wedding, people will probably bring you gifts to help start your new life together. (We’ll discuss the pros and cons of bringing presents to a wedding at a later date.) Today, though, and for the next couple of weeks, we’re going to look at some gifts that you may want to give to members of your wedding party. Specifically, the ladies involved in your wedding.

You have your Maid and/or Matron of Honor, your Bridesmaids, your Juniors (if you have any), and your Flower Girl. You have your Mother and your future Mother-in-Law. There could be more, but these are the typical ones. If you’re looking for gift ideas for someone who is not on this list, don’t worry! All of these gift ideas could be used for anyone who likes really cute stuff!

My friend Jill recently posted the link to these fabulous handmade handbags on Facebook. {http://www.facebook.com/} (If you’re not on Facebook, please join – and invite me to be your friend and if you are, then connect with me!) The company is Third Willow in Minneapolis. {http://www.thirdwillow.etsy.com/}

Just look at these!

I would love to receive one of these as a gift. I think your friends and family would love these, too!

If have a great gift idea, let me know!

Catherine

Etiquette Matters - Invitation Addressing

Etiquette – a word that generates such stuffy and stilted feelings in so many people! Officially, from Dictionary.com, fourth definition {http://www.dictionary.com/}, it means: rules governing socially acceptable behavior. Now, that’s not so bad! Unofficially, I look at etiquette as the overarching framework on which weddings and other social events rest. It is not passé, it is not old-fashioned. It is what can and will give your event, no matter what your budget, style, class, and a feeling of graciousness.

So, for the first in our etiquette series, we’re going to tackle a question that has come up several times with our brides in the past couple of years. “Do I have to address my invitations by hand?”

Traditionally, all invitations were hand written and hand delivered by footmen to all invitees. The outer envelope could (and did) get dirty during this process, so there was an inner envelope that was also hand addressed. No abbreviations whatsoever were allowed. So, if your wedding has 200 guests, can you imagine hand writing every single invitation? I’m sure glad that has changed! Although, I wouldn’t mind having someone hand deliver all the invitations for me – that would be cool!

An inner envelope, if there is one, should still be hand addressed to your invitee. It is much more personal and is just nice to see when you open the outer envelope. If even this is too much for you, then consider one of the fantastic options without an inner envelope that is available.

Even today, outside envelopes inviting guests to a very formal celebration should still be hand written. Whether you do it or hire someone to do it, if you are having a white tie wedding, don’t use the computer for your invitations! If it isn’t so formal, you do have the option of having your invitation company address the envelopes for you in a matching color. This is very nice, but does add to your invitation cost.

If you consider yourself a “DIY bride” or if you are on a budget (and who isn’t?) then there are many other options available to you. You can choose to write the address yourself. Use the guide that comes with your envelopes and work on them in small batches. You’ll be surprised at how little time this takes. Just be sure to have a few extra envelopes on hand for mistakes – they will happen!

If you have a good printer and it feeds envelopes well, you can try to print the address on the envelope itself. There are some drawbacks for this – most stationery envelopes are heavyweight paper. Your printer may not feed them through easily, the ink color (if you choose to print in color) may not exactly match your invitations, and if your envelope is not in the white or ivory color family, you’ll have a hard time printing directly on it.

Another option is to print address labels. If you’re going to print yourself, I suggest this method. If you use a clear label, you may still run into a problem with darker paper, but you can try lots of different color combinations to see what works without breaking the bank. You won’t need many extra envelopes because you will catch your mistakes before you even get to the envelope. If you use a white label, you can create a design that is all your own to use on your envelopes.

Your return address should be printed or embossed on the back flap of the envelope. It should not be on the front. This is the same for any type/style/formality of an occasion.

Here are a few invitations and what I think would be an acceptable way to address them. All invitations are from Carlson Craft. {http://www.carlsoncraft.com/}



I consider the above invitations formal and they I would suggest handwriting addresses on the outer envelope.



I consider these invitations to be more contemporary or informal, so, in my opinion, a label or computer printing would be acceptable.

I also love handwriting fonts. You can even have a font made out of your own handwriting at a number of places. If you use these for addressing your envelopes, you can still convey a personalized feeling without worrying if your guest (or the post office) can read your handwriting. There are also many, many good calligraphy fonts available as well. Some of my favorites are below (with a nod to a certain 80's sitcom!). All are free fonts available at Dafont. {http://www.dafont.com/}


So, if etiquette is “the rules governing social acceptable behavior” then I say if your wedding is not formal and you are comfortable with printing your envelopes, then go for it! Whatever you do, your invitation is usually the first item people receive that conveys the style, feel, and formality of your event. Be sure that whatever you choose to do with addressing your invitations says what you want it to say!

Catherine

Planning Kickstart - Catalog Inspiration

So, you’re looking for ideas for your wedding or event. You pick up a bridal magazine (or 3) and flip through it. You see page after page of beautiful ideas and color schemes. You think to yourself… ”How did they come up with that?” Now, they may be fantastically creative and inspiring people, they could have hired a consultant (yes, we tend to fit in that first category, too!), or they may have just seen something pretty that inspired them somewhere else. I personally really like the last idea – that’s where a lot of really good and unique ideas come from for weddings. Don’t limit yourself to just looking in the traditional “bridal” places.

I get so many catalogs every week – I think I personally recycle enough to save all the forests in North Carolina – that I look through for inspiration. I really like several of them and I’ll highlight ideas from them over the next few weeks. One of my favorites is the Crate and Barrel {www.crateandbarrel.com} catalog. On first impression, if you are a clean lines and bold colors bride, you will find inspiration here – from table settings to color schemes. And if you don’t use this as an inspiration if you have registered there, then you are really missing out! Look at these pillows – yes, pillows! All of the images below are from Crate and Barrel.

I also LOVE the descriptions of these pillows.

1. Bright tangerine cotton is embroidered with an exotic, Indian-inspired botanical and hand-decorated with sparkling glass beads.
2. Swirling retro paisleys are appliquéd and embroidered in exuberant day-glo brights to make a bold splash.
3. Designed by Marimekko's ® Tanja Orsjoki in 2004, a fantasy of flowing, tonal green vines and yellow honeysuckle blossoms sprawls naturally across both sides of an oversized chocolate brown pillow.
4. Graphic faux patent polka dots add a fun new dimension in white on a black cotton square.

If you were still unsure as to which one you liked best, which description fits you?

1. Exotic and sparkling?
2. Exuberant and bold?
3. Flowing and natural?
4. Graphic and fun?

Remember, inspiration can come from not only the picture, but how it makes you feel. Using these as inspiration, you could come up with a unique color scheme and feel to your wedding that will showcase you and your personal style.

So, which one is your favorite? Let me know!

Catherine

Come Celebrate!

Hello, everyone! Finally, I've decided to quit just reading everyone else's wonderful, fantastic, and smart blogs and start my own.

I want this to be a place for me to share what I know about weddings and event planning with others - brides, families, other wedding professionals - and a place for me to learn what you like through your comments and questions. Which, by the way, I welcome!

Through my rabid reading of other industry blogs, I have decided I really like a specific daily format so I know what to write (there's the organization I need) and you know what you'll be reading daily. If you have suggestions, please let me know, but here's what I have come up with so far...

Monday: Planning Kickstart. Begin your week with an idea (or two) to make your event Always unique. Never ordinary.™

Tuesday: Etiquitte Matters. Questions and answers about that sticky wicket.

Wednesday: Gifting and Registry. Believe it or not, you have to gift people at your wedding, too! Here's a place for ideas that you just may want on your registry, too.

Thursday: Inspiration Board Day! I know there are lots of other sites that do this and do it VERY well, but I love my boards, too!

Friday: Fun Friday! Could be anything, you'll have to come back to check and see!

Weekends: Most of the time, I won't post on the weekend, but there could be something you really need to know about...

At Cherished Celebrations, we really do strive to make your event Always unique. Never ordinary.™ With this daily inspriation, we want to help you, too!

Don't forget to connect with me if you're on any of the sites under "Connect with me", I'd love to "e-meet" you, too!

Have a great week!

Catherine