Trash The Dress

Hi there! As a consultant-in-training, I wanted to take a look at some growing popular trends in weddings. I became interested in a trend that usually takes place after the wedding – a fun photoshoot where the bride gets to basically go crazy – in a good way. A fast-growing trend known as “trash the dress” is a fun, creative photo shoot where the bride doesn’t have to be as clean and pristine as you may expect.

A few popular photoshoot themes are:

•        underwater
•        pools, beach, fountain
•        cars
•        paint
•        whatever is personal and fun for you! 

Check out some examples below.

Often times the shoot takes place a few days or weeks after the wedding. But, if you have time on your actual wedding day, it could be a fun whimsical way to release some stress and have fun! Don’t worry - a lot of these ideas can be reversed with a little laundry detergent and water. The memories from these shoots will last a lifetime. Happy “trashing”!

XO, Sierra

Introducing the Intern Class for Summer 2012!!!

Here at Paisley Events, We take pride in our education of the wedding and event industry. There is nothing I dislike more than a novice who jumps into the industry and thinks they have it all and can do what a trained professional does. Trained professionals are professional for a reason: They have the training and experience!!! Because of this, I have made it a part of my company to take on part of that responsibility! I owe it to myself, and all my fellow colleagues and those in the industry to guide those invested in what we love to reaching the same level of professionalism! So without further a due, I introduce to you my summer interns!


* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

EMILY DEMARCO

(Junior Consultant)

Emily is a senior at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. She is a business administration major with a concentration in hospitality and tourism management. Emily is from Newtown, CT. She is interested in the event planning industry because the excitement of observing and creating an event from beginning to end is exhilarating. She has a passion for events and is looking forward to learning everything she can about the industry!

 

ANGELA PIA

(Consultant-in-training)

Angela Pia lives in Trumbull, Connecticut and is a rising senior at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore.  She is an advertising and public relations major with a minor in marketing.  Angela grew up with a deep love for Disney princesses and always had the mentality that everyday a prince will find her princesses as they did in the movies.  With this thought, she knew that she wanted to become an integral part of the “happily ever after,” thus the love for event planning developed in her. Through her internship at Paisley Events, Angela is extremely excited to work hands on with the event planning industry and gain invaluable knowledge of weddings and other events throughout her experience.  As a member of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Honor Society, she knows what it is like to work hard and let creativity flow while seeing positive results in the end.  She cannot wait to jump into this new world of events, see what it has to offer, and finally make her dreams come true.

LAUREN TANNER
(Consultant-in-training)

After growing up in northern central New Jersey, Lauren is now a junior at Indiana University, majoring in Communications. She is extremely creative and loves planning various events. This past semester, she took a wedding planning class and absolutely fell in love with the process. It became clear that she needed to begin gaining experience in the field and when the opportunity came up to join Paisley Events, it was as if it was the perfect fit. She cannot wait to learn more about the industry and is greatly looking forward to all the adventures this internship has in store.






Lindsay DeAngelo
(Consultant-in-training)

Lindsay DeAngelo is going to be a senior at Eastern Connecticut State University. She is a Business Administration major with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Business Information Systems. Lindsay is looking forward to joining the Paisley Events team to successfully plan weddings and other events.She is eager to begin and learn the ins and outs of this industry!









 

NEIL MCCORMACK

(Consultant-in-training)

Neil just graduated from the undergraduate program at Columbia University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science in Earth and Environmental Engineering, and hold a bachelor of science degree in this field, with a special concentration in Water Resources and Climate Risks. Neil has been involved in the event industry, from many angles, physically in Fairfield County and New York City and would like to offer you his passion, hard work, and persevering assistance in planning your special day.

SIERRA BROWN

(Consultant-in-training)

Sierra is a Communications and Public Relations double major at the University of Rhode Island. She is from Somers, NY and loves anything that has to do with flowers, fashion, music or writing.  Sierra has a passion for writing music, singing, travel, and cooking. She has always had a passion for event planning and loves helping others' dreams become reality. She feels an internship with Paisley Events is the first step into the wedding and event planning industry!

Cherish the Moments Bridal Extravaganza

Yesterday was such a busy day! Megan and I drove from cozy Ridgefield Ct all the way across the state to present at a bridal show in Mystic CT! Cherish the Moments (a wedding company centered out of RI) was hosting its first ever CT bridal show!

The Show was held at the Mystic Hilton. Such a beautiful location! Unfortunately it was pouring rain, but that did not halt the steady flow of couples who we met! As always we were fortunate to make connections with other vendors at the show! To list a few, we connected with an 18 piece band, a living statue, and a few phenomenal photographers and stationary designers!

Paisley Events was the holder of the largest donation to the bride give away contest! Our Day Of Coordination raffle topped the other vendors in price and quality by far! Our prize was won by the sweetest couple! The bride was so sweet! We cant wait to work with her next year!

The show was an over all success! Why wouldn't it be? It was after all a Paisley Event!!!!

xoxo

Katherine

Bosco Bridal Show

Bosco's Bridal Shows have been around for years! He has show after show, presented brides all throughout NY and CT the levels of excellence that can be at their fingertips if they so choose. This past weekend Paisley Events was a vendor and wedding professional at Bosco's Bridal Extravaganza hosted by the Danbury Plaza Hotel.

Other vendors such as photographers, DJ, videographers, florists, makeup artists, bakeries, jewelry representatives, and candy bars were present at this particular show. The MC for the event goes full credit to Sound Solution's very own Tom Sacco. They put on a great display of musical styling from a frank Sinatra sound a like to a fun upbeat zumba infused dance enthusiasts.

The show was concluded with a raffle from all the vendors and of course a fashion show displaying this years hottest styles in tuxedos, wedding gowns wedding formal attire, and attendant wear.

Paisley Events was very fortunate to have the opportunity to be a vendor at this show. We event met a new Bride and her Fiance there! WE cant wait to work with them!

xoxo

Katherine

Cake For Everyone!!!

Everyone looks forward to the wedding reception. Yes its a celebration and the bride and groom and finally announced as man and wife, but the real star of the reception show is the wedding cake! Nothing says style like the traditional or modern wedding cake.

We all know the tradition where bride and groom cut the cake symbolizing the start of a life together, but no one really knows what happens after that. How is a cake cut into all 100+ slices so perfectly!

A serving is defined as a 2"x2" slice for sheet cakes or a 1"x2" slice for layer cakes. it doesn't seem like much, but it shows the layers!. The pictures below describe the number of servings in some tiered cakes as well as a guide for cutting cakes, which is especially useful for getting the prescribed number of servings when cutting round cakes. You may not be the one cutting the entire cake at your wedding, but its still so cool to actually know what to do!

Happy cake cutting!

xoxo
Katherine

Wedding Steps Bridal Show!...Again!

Wedding Steps Bridal Show 

at

The Waterview in Monroe CT

This past weekend , Paisley Events joined 75 other vendors at the stunning Waterview in Monroe CT to participate in the Wedding Steps Bridal Show (our second show with them this year!). The brides came from all around Connecticut and New York to see the vendors and gain ideas for their big day! The last show we exhibited in with The Wedding Steps was much smaller, and this was the GBE of CT! I was assisted by my lovely intern, Emily DeMarco, and Paisley Events' best friend, Megan Carey!

Event vendor participated in a bridal raffle by donating a item worth $50+ to the "bin". To be considered for the prizes, the brides had to circulate the exhibitors room and receive signatures from each vendor. Unlike the last show, the raffles were announced at the end of the show! I prefer this method because, at least for me, i got to meet with the couple who won my prizes before they left the show itself. I raffled off another Day Of Coordination package, as well as 3 hours worth of A La Carte!

Below are the pictures my lovely assistant Megan took from the booth! Thanks Megan!

The booth while we were setting up...notice how off skew the banner is!!!

The table. Floral centerpiece designed by Floral by Grace located in Greenwich Produce on Rt123!

Display round! Isnt the fabric fantastic! The entire table was lent to us by Events Party & Tent Rental in Georgetown CT!

Me next to the finished booth!!!

Renata, owner of Lovely Cakes in Norwalk CT was sweet enough to bring us a showpiece
(make and totally edible btw)!
She is the Spotlight vendor at my June Bride to be Academy Class!!!

We look forward to seeing you at Bosco's Wedding Expo at The Plaza in Danbury, CT on Saturday March 24th!

xoxo

Katherine

Wedding Etiquette Trivia Answers

As promised, here are the answers to the recent posting of Wedding Etiquette Trivia!

QUESTION: On which lapel should the groom and groomsmen wear their boutonnieres?

ANSWER: A

Traditionally, the boutonniere should be worn by the groom and his attendants on their left lapels. The groom and groomsmen's boutonnieres should be simple and small, and they should never appear to be wearing corsages. Usually, the groom's boutonniere features the same type of flower used in his bride's bouquet, while the groomsmen typically wear a boutonniere that complements that of the groom.

QUESTION: Traditionally, who holds the knife when cutting the wedding cake?

ANSWER: C

When it comes to cutting the cake, the bride traditionally puts her right hand on the handle of the cake knife, and the groom puts his hand over hers.

QUESTION: How long should you allow for the printing of formal invitations?

ANSWER: C

The rule of thumb is to allow at least six to eight weeks for formal invitations and their related enclosures to print.

QUESTION: What is the ideal lag time between the ceremony and reception?

ANSWER: B

 The ideal lag time between the ceremony and reception is 30 minutes -- after all, you want to avoid keeping guests waiting too long with no place to go. Typically, lag time is dependent on how far the two venues are from each other, the time availability of both spaces, and whether or not the formal photographs of the wedding party will be taken after the ceremony (and how long that will take).

QUESTION: When should you have your registries completed by?

ANSWER: C

When it comes to gifts, you should register as soon as you can, within reason. You should have your registries completed by the time that invitations are sent.

QUESTION: What is the appropriate way to give the bride and groom their gifts?

ANSWER: D

After the wedding, gifts should be sent to the couple's address. If they have not made their home address known, the gifts should be sent to the bride's parents' home, alternatively. Before the wedding, gifts should be sent to their address (if the couple is already living together) or to the bride's home.

QUESTION: Who stands and who sits during the wedding toasts?

ANSWER: A

Everyone should rise for the toasts to the newlyweds except the bride and groom, who remain seated. If a toast is directed towards the bride, the groom rises; if it is directed to their parents, both the bride and groom rise.

QUESTION: When should you mail out your invitations?

ANSWER: C

You should mail your invitations out six to eight weeks before the wedding date.

QUESTION: How long do you have to write and send thank-you notes?

ANSWER: B

All thank-you notes should be written and sent within three months of the wedding -- at most.

These are a few small etiquette tips for the newly engaged! If you happen to have any wedding questions, write to katherine@eventspaisley.com and we'll answer asap!

xoxo 

Katherine