Presents For Your Ladies

Every bride looks forward to the day she can make those special phone calls or text a message to those few ladies whose friendship she treasures: her bridesmaids! To thank them for being a big part of your life, as well as your big day, its tradition to give them something special to commemorate the day. Here are a few suggestions on what the ladies love!

• Jewelry is always appreciated and you don't have to break the bank to give a perfect present.  Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and even rings are great ideas. You can easily buy lots of gorgeous crystal or beaded bracelets that will fit everyone. Here's a small hint:  if you have them all shipped together, you'll not only save on shipping, but your time running all over searching for individual perfect gifts is cut in half!

• Any spa obsessed friends? Pampering products are always a huge hit. Give the girls a spa in a bag! Get a nice toiletry case and fill then with different soothing products. If all your ladies are staying in a hotel, they'll be thrilled to have extra products (especially ones that are bigger than the tiny ones provided by hotels). Alternately, you could even consider giving them fluffy monogrammed robes. 

• Gift certificates to a spa are also nice. Your bridesmaids can go at a given time together, or even consider a girls weekend to the area spa. Its always great to be pampered, especially if you have your girlfriends to share it with! 

• Monogrammed candles are always lovely! They come in all types of containers and colors. You can choose a monogram for each of the girls to make the gift truly personal.

• Purses, cosmetic cases, and personalized totes all make great gifts! Either have them uniformly personalized, or consider giving one that fits with each girls personality. Fill them with travel sized products of all kinds, or consider using a theme that goes with your wedding (example: beach wedding = monogrammed towels and sunglasses).

• You could give them tickets to a concert or other local venue! Try to get tickets that are good for a wide number of dates, so each girl can choose when she'd like to go. Theater tickets are usually good for the run of the show.  

• Edible gifts are all the rage at the moment. You can get anything from chocolates and candies, to lollipops in the shape of bridal attire. There is really no end to the treats that are available by any high end or gourmet sweet shop. You can also find them online at multiple sites. 

• Since your bridesmaids will be on their feet all day, why not give them personalized flip flops or flats? They can slip out of their heels and into comfy shoes for dancing the night away! Every polished toe will be thanking you!

It's up to you to decide how much you want to spend. If your budget is tight, you can always make something and wrap it in fancy packaging. Remember, it is your token of thanks from the heart that really gives the favor all of its meaning. No favor should be a cause of stress for you or your soon to be married partner in crime. Think simple, and have fun!

xoxo 

Katherine

Got Interns?

Got "Intern"? 

Cause We Do!

Paisley Events is proud to present our new

intern: Emily DeMarco!

Emily is a Junior at The College of Charleston in South Carolina. She is a Business Administration major and has a concentration in Hospitality and Tourism Management. By working with us this summer, she hopes to gain experience in the wedding and event planning industry. She is a CT native and loves to plan just as much as we do! We are so proud to have her with us!

The BBQ Reception

Hello!

Last Friday I had the great pleasure of FINALLY meeting with my June couple Sarah & Jared! They are possibly the most down to earth couple I have ever had the pleasure to work with. For their wedding we are working on a beach wedding with....wait for it... A BBQ RECEPTION!

Lately, more and more couples are opting for backyard style receptions. And why not? Not only does it allow for a more comfortable setting, but its a kick back to the fun in the sun that we all experience every so often on a good warm summer's night. Couples who chose to have a smaller intimate reception are generally low key and very family oriented. A common misconception associated with backyard receptions is that they are only for a couple who really has no budget, but this isn't the case at all! These easy going, free flying couples simply want to have fun!

The restaurant that Sarah and Jared are using is owned by a friend of theirs. His restaurant, Flaggstead Smokehouse, is located in Farmingville, CT. They have the best BBQ I have ever ever ever tasted! They have done catering for years and have catered to many many wedding receptions. Their restaurant has a big BBQ feel to it. The meats are cooked and smoked to perfection and the potato salad is to die for! The food tasting was the perfect preview to just how good the reception food will be.

Sarah and Jared chose to have mac n cheese, stuffed peppers, and nachos for their appetizers, sweet corn, salad, and BBQ beans for their sides, and chicken, sausage and smoked brisket for their main course choices! They are opting for a buffet style and are keeping their options low key.

I am looking forward to the decor portion of this wedding almost as much as the food. There is so much that you can do! You can choose beach table style seating, or go old school with benches and long tables. If you don't want to keep with the red gingham table cloth and red solo cup look of your classic American picnic, you can dress it up with your wedding colors and keep napkins with heavy duty paper for those messy fingers! The choices and possibilities are endless!


xoxo

Katherine

The Ultimate Face Off: Wedding Cake vs. Cupcakes

Due to my anxiety and excitement about this coming weekend's wedding related activities (I am meeting up with my June couple and their parents as well as meeting my summer intern!), I took out all the pent-up energy on a batch of Superbowl inspired cupcakes. While attempting to scrape blue food coloring off of my fingers, I began to think about cupcakes and their recent high society take-back. I'm not sure if you are aware, fellow bloggers, but cupcakes have made a return to the "trendy must-haves" list for weddings and other events. They have been popping up again and again as a trendy cute way to save or add a fun twist to the dessert portion of your wedding. 

So keeping that in mind, I plan on using this post to scout out the truth. Are cupcakes the ultimate alternative? Taking a cue from a recent wedding article, I will be casting my vote in the wedding cake vs. cupcake face-off, based on the categories of cost, style, and tradition.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


COST: Unfortunately, in this economy, cost is often the main factor for a choice. When wedding cupcakes first entered the spotlight, they instantly became a big money saver.  Who wouldn't want to spent 1-2 dollars for a single cupcake as opposed to 6-10 dollars for 1 slice of cake?!

The thing here is that wedding cupcakes are just as much work if not more than a traditional 3+ tier wedding cake. If you think about it, each individual cupcake needs to be baked, iced, and decorated identically…. That takes some serious dedication to detail on the baker's part. In the end, it all comes down to choices.

Winner: A tie! When it comes down to the choice, you can do cupcakes more inexpensively than you can buy a wedding cake, but in the end, a beautiful wedding cake provides valuable memories.  And it's probably cheaper to have a memorable wedding cake than to decorate each individual cupcake... especially if you do it yourself!

STYLE: As a fellow blogger said to me, “There's something so whimsically childlike about unwrapping a cupcake.” Ironically, that is the most divisive aspect of these sweet treats!  As much fun as they are, do cupcakes really scream sophistication? If you are leaning towards a traditional formal wedding, you may want to steer away from the pint-size morsels and stay true to the grand formal wedding cake. If your wedding guests are traditional people, they might think that cupcakes are too casual, or worse, cheap. 

On the other hand, if your reception is relaxed and fun is your primary goal, tell everyone to be a kid again and grab a cupcake! Once they're up and having fun on the dance floor, they won't have to sit again for dessert. They'll just grab a cupcake and keep on groovin'. 

Winner: Cupcakes! There's just a bit more punch to a cupcake. You can dress them up or down, but they'll always be fun. 

TRADITION: Lets face it, wedding cakes have been the standard for over 100 years. There are traditions linked to the cake, such as the cake cutting, and cake toppers, that go hand in hand with them. Cupcakes leave no room for a cake topper, or at least not a normal sized one, and a cake cutting on a cupcake is just a little silly (though much easier to clean up if you're in the mood to stuff cake in your new spouse's face!). 

On the other hand, couples have found ways to have the best of both worlds. They can order a small round to sit on top of the cupcake tower and use it for the cake cutting, as well as a perch for everyone favorite wax figurines. 

Winner: Wedding Cake! There is no arguing it, cupcakes will never be as elegantly traditional as wedding cake. 

Overall, it's a tie!  With these pros and cons, and the help of a few tips I've mentioned, you can figure out which is best for your wedding.

Keep an eye out for the next Ultimate Face Off!

Stay Sweet!

xoxo
Katherine

Something Old... Something New...

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Everyone who has ever dreamed of their wedding, been to a wedding, or had a friend or family member marry knows the saying, but not many people know that this popular wedding good luck charm actually started out as an old Victorian era poem. 

"Something old, something new 

something borrowed, something blue, 

and a silver sixpence in her shoe."

Each part of the poem holds a different meaning!

Something Old:  This piece of the poem signifies continuity and the importance of the past with regard to the future. This is usually a family heirloom and links the bride's single life and her family to her new life as a married woman.

Something New:  This should represent good fortune and success in the bride's marriage.

The wedding gown is often chosen as the new item, but it could be anything that is purchased new for the wedding such as the wedding flowers or the wedding rings. Wearing a new item on your wedding day conveys the message that you and your husband are creating a new union that will endure forever.

Something Borrowed:  This is meant to show the necessity of family and friends to the new couple who will be there for her on the special day and in the future. Historically, the item borrowed is from a happily married woman or from a woman who had a happy marriage, so the happiness will rub off on the brides marriage.  PS- You should probably return the borrowed item!

Something Blue:  Blue is widely known to be a symbol of faithfulness, purity and loyalty. It denotes love, modesty, and fidelity. Today, most garters have blue lace or trimming. Some brides include blue flowers, have a blue handkerchief, or wear blue shoes!

A Silver Sixpence:  The sixpence signifies wealth to the couple both financially and in terms of personal fulfillment and happiness. Not everyone has access to a old English sixpence (imagine that!) so a penny provides a happy substitute!

xoxo

Katherine

ABC's: "Want to be a guest at your own wedding?" Brochure!

As a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC), a wide range of helpful informational materials is always at my fingertips. Recently, the ABC updated their brochure about the helpfulness of their trained bridal consultants. The brochure answers some FAQ's and give a good bit of publicity to us hard working wedding planners!  With full credit to ABC, here is the brochure reprinted (or retyped, rather) on The Paisley Press!

Want to be a guest at your own wedding?

Hire a professional bridal consultant.

What will a professional Bridal Consultant do for me?
In addition to helping you make your wedding dreams come true within your budget- and perhaps saving you from costly mistakes- a consultant will save you time. With today's hectic lifestyles, many bridal couples and their families do not have the time for the detailed planning and work that a beautiful wedding requires.

Wont a consultant want to run the whole show?

A professional bridal consultant will work with you to handle as much or as little of your wedding as you wish. After all, it is your wedding. The consultant is there to help you and your family and make the day as perfect as possible.

Why cant I do the planning myself?

You certainly can do the planning yourself, and that sometimes is part of the fun. But it also can be a hassle; checking out any sources for each vendor category, making sure all the details are in place and worrying about whether you're getting the best deal and whether everything will turn out all right. An ABC bridal professional has the training and experience to make it all come together while you relax.

Do I need a contract with my consultant?

You should have some agreement in writing . While some people prefer a formal contract, a letter of agreement signed by both of you is usually enough. This is an informal contract which spells out fees, payment schedules and what each of you will do. 

What qualities should I look for in a consultant?

It is important you look for one with professional credentials. You should also be very comfortable with the person. You will be spending a lot of time together planning one of the major rites of passage in your life.

How can I tell if a bridal consultant us reputable?

All Association of Bridal Consultant members agree to uphold the ABC Code of Ethics and Standards of Membership. Look for the association's logo and ask to see a current membership certificate or contact the association to verify a bridal consultant's status. Be sure to ask the consultant during the interview what kind of education and experience they have. Our members work towards the designation of Professional Bridal Consultant once they have completed the professional development program. 

What will a bridal consultant charge?
Most ABC consultants charge an hourly rate, or a fixed fee, or a combination of both. All of these methods are acceptable, but you should clarify in writing how and when you will compensate your wedding coordinator for his or her services. A wedding consultant is part of your budget, not an extra expense. In fact, you often save money because a consultant suggests affordable alternatives that still enhance your wedding. The professional bridal consultant will work with you to produce your dream wedding, including the consultants' fee, all within your budget.

How can I tell if a bridal consultant is providing a quality vendor?

Bridal consultants work with many different wedding vendors and service providers. They have experience to know who is the best suited for you wedding. The consultants reputation depends on the quality of the services you receive. A bridal professional is committed to providing the best possible wedding for the lowest possible cost. Also, the consultant's job is to keep you on budget.

How can i pull it all together?
My family lives in a different part of the country and we are getting married in another place. 

Though ABC's network, a member can work with more than 4000 other members worldwide to help you arrange your wedding wherever you choose- in your home town, in your parents' home town, or at a special destination of your choice.

How can a bridal consultant help?

We are a typical family-divorces, relatives and working parents.

With so many brides and their parents working, a bridal consultant can handle much of the time-consuming, detailed planning for your wedding. you save time, reduce stress, and concentrate on having fun as your wedding approaches. An experienced consultant can often smooth the complex relationships found when todays modern family plans a wedding.

Do I need a bridal consultant?
A consultant will be a distinct asset as you plan your wedding. Wouldn't it be nice to spend time with your fiance and your families, rather than worrying about all the details of your special day? A consultant will take care of those details, leaving you to have the fun. And on your wedding day, you are the star, while your consultant works behind the scenes to make your dreams come true!

Remember: This is you once in a life time day!

Let an ABC professional bridal consultant handle the details for you. Its your big day. Make certain it turns out perfectly- and enjoy your wedding!

Happy February, Paisley Press Readers!

Happy February, everyone!

I thought it might be fun to do a bit of research on the month itself, so here it goes!  Here's a subtle tribute to the month of love.

A few fun facts:

• February is the shortest month and the only month on the calendar with fewer than 30 days!
• February hosts leap year every four years!
• Holidays in February include Valentine's Day, Groundhog Day, and Lincoln & Washington's Birthdays.
• February always starts and ends on the same day!
• February is the only month of the year that can pass without a single full moon!

February is associated with a number of cool symbols too:

• February has two birth flowers: violets and the common primrose.
• February's birthstone is the amethyst which symbolizes piety, humility, spiritual wisdom, and sincerity.
• February's zodiac signs are Aquarius (through February 18th) and Pisces (starting on February 19th).

I hope you all enjoy your month!

xoxo

Katherine