- You may be able to use a venue or vendor during a peak season that may not otherwise be available. The most popular sites, photographers, planners, etc. book up quickly especially during popular wedding months like May and October. If you are planning on short notice you may be able to get your top pick if you are not looking for a traditional day or time. I always advise couples to lock in their ceremony and reception locations first thing to save a ton of hassles.
- Many venues and vendors have a discount for weekdays if they are normally in less demand during those times. Never hurts to ask!
- An alternative day immediately sends the message to your guests that this is not going to be your typical wedding. A Friday night wedding somehow seems so festive and perfect for a guest list where the majority live in-town. On the flip side if most of your friends and family are traveling from out of town, a Sunday ceremony allows for lots of time over the weekend to catch up and culminates in the big celebration.
10.13.2009
Saturday Alternatives
Many couples these days are more open to considering having their ceremony on a non-Saturday. This trend can be great for lots of reasons:
7.13.2009
New Budget Friendly Package
I know times are tough right now and many couples have had to keep a close watch on their bottom line. Many people think there is just no way than can afford a wedding planner on their budget. Christine Faust Events to the rescue!
Announcing my newest bridal package - The Bridal Blueprint! Even a Do-It-Yourself diva can benefit from the process of working with an experienced event planner. The Bridal Blueprint includes:
www.faustevents.com
christine@faustevents.com
864.590.2440
Announcing my newest bridal package - The Bridal Blueprint! Even a Do-It-Yourself diva can benefit from the process of working with an experienced event planner. The Bridal Blueprint includes:
- Bride & Groom Personality Profile
- Identifying your Top 3 Priorities
- Recommendation of season, time of day and type of venue
- Color and Theme Ideas
- Detailed Checklist
- Budget WorksheetPayment Planner
www.faustevents.com
christine@faustevents.com
864.590.2440
7.08.2009
2 Affordable Ways to Get Custom Invitations
In these days of mailboxes filled with nothing but junk mail, a gorgeous wedding invitation is like a special treat for your guests. It is their first glimpse into what to expect from your wedding day. A vehicle to express the formality (or lack thereof), the style and the tone of the event. Custom invitations are the perfect way to personalize what is too often a boring afterthought. I am sure you are thinking sounds great, but way too expensive. Let me introduce you to two artists that are making it available to the average couple.
Jennifer Tucker of White Tulip Designs works with clients to design a handmade pen and ink invitation set. Her designs are then professionally scanned and printed to produce a high quality gorgeous finished product. Because they are produced by hand, she can easily design a set of invitations, programs, favor boxes, etc. that aren't copies, but interpretations on the theme. You can see more examples of her work on her website http://www.whitetulipdesigns.com/.
Another new favorite is Megan Battistella of Adair Designs. Megan is a graphic designer that specializes in ornate and unique invitation suites. Her elaborate designs can also include special add-ons like custom belly bands and whimsical maps. I appreciate her spot-on color trend forecasting. Love the slate gray! You can see more of her work on her
blog at http://adairdesign.blogspot.com/.
Just another example of how you don't have to spend more money, you just have to be more resourceful!
Jennifer Tucker of White Tulip Designs works with clients to design a handmade pen and ink invitation set. Her designs are then professionally scanned and printed to produce a high quality gorgeous finished product. Because they are produced by hand, she can easily design a set of invitations, programs, favor boxes, etc. that aren't copies, but interpretations on the theme. You can see more examples of her work on her website http://www.whitetulipdesigns.com/.Another new favorite is Megan Battistella of Adair Designs. Megan is a graphic designer that specializes in ornate and unique invitation suites. Her elaborate designs can also include special add-ons like custom belly bands and whimsical maps. I appreciate her spot-on color trend forecasting. Love the slate gray! You can see more of her work on her
blog at http://adairdesign.blogspot.com/.Just another example of how you don't have to spend more money, you just have to be more resourceful!
6.23.2009
How to plan a GREAT rehearsal dinner
What are you looking for in a venue for your rehearsal dinner? Here are a few of my favorite things when it comes to creating a successful Wedding Day Eve celebration:
1. Convenience - Your rehearsal dinner should be held in a location that is easy for out-of-towners to find, close to their accomodations and with plenty of parking.
2. Delicious - The food needs to be yummy so that you kick off the weekend with everyone smiling. Make sure that the wines, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks offered are also up to your standards.
3. Ambiance - You also want to make sure it doesn't compete with the reception so pick a place with a different vibe than your Big Day party. That night is usually about catching up with your closest friends and family. Make sure your room is secluded and inviting to conversation.
4. Personality - The rehearsal dinner is a perfect opportunity to showcase local cuisine or highlight a favorite vacation spot. Love your visits to Maine? Maybe lobster mashed potatoes are just the way to treat your guests. Lots of guests visiting from outside the area? May be the time to show them how we do it Down South!
5. Thanks - This is the best time to give out attendant gifts, thank your parents and give gushy speeches. So make sure you have the privacy and a convenient room size for expressing your gratitude. The bride and groom should be seated in a central location so that everyone feels close to them.
I was invited to City Range last night to check out their private rooms at the Greenville location. I think you would be hard pressed to find a location that so beautifully fulfills all of my criteria.
The Greenville location has two flexible private rooms to accommodate 30 to 80 people that are booked at NO EXTRA CHARGE (hard to find). The food is amazing, the atmosphere is homey and inviting, with a large stone fireplace that would be so romantic in the cooler months.
For more information check out their website at http://www.cityrange.com/banquet_information. You can also contact Shannon Williams 864.608.4178 or banquet@cityrange.com.
1. Convenience - Your rehearsal dinner should be held in a location that is easy for out-of-towners to find, close to their accomodations and with plenty of parking.
2. Delicious - The food needs to be yummy so that you kick off the weekend with everyone smiling. Make sure that the wines, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks offered are also up to your standards.
3. Ambiance - You also want to make sure it doesn't compete with the reception so pick a place with a different vibe than your Big Day party. That night is usually about catching up with your closest friends and family. Make sure your room is secluded and inviting to conversation.
4. Personality - The rehearsal dinner is a perfect opportunity to showcase local cuisine or highlight a favorite vacation spot. Love your visits to Maine? Maybe lobster mashed potatoes are just the way to treat your guests. Lots of guests visiting from outside the area? May be the time to show them how we do it Down South!
5. Thanks - This is the best time to give out attendant gifts, thank your parents and give gushy speeches. So make sure you have the privacy and a convenient room size for expressing your gratitude. The bride and groom should be seated in a central location so that everyone feels close to them.
I was invited to City Range last night to check out their private rooms at the Greenville location. I think you would be hard pressed to find a location that so beautifully fulfills all of my criteria.
The Greenville location has two flexible private rooms to accommodate 30 to 80 people that are booked at NO EXTRA CHARGE (hard to find). The food is amazing, the atmosphere is homey and inviting, with a large stone fireplace that would be so romantic in the cooler months.
For more information check out their website at http://www.cityrange.com/banquet_information. You can also contact Shannon Williams 864.608.4178 or banquet@cityrange.com.
5.20.2009
Venue Report - Duncan Estate
Welcome to the first report from your roving event planner. I hope to help give you the scoop on venues around town that have caught my eye. Especially new places or ones you may not have thought of.
If you are looking for a gorgeous outdoor site or have always dreamed of a beautiful mansion then this is the place! Danielle and her husband found this gem and polished it to perfection for their own nuptials and now they want to share it with you. Hasn't every girl dreamed of descending this staircase?
The grounds are lush,well-manicured and quaint with charming touches like a porch swing in the front yard and a playhouse in the back. The outdoor ceremony site is just waiting for your personal touches of hanging lanterns or bud vases.
The patio is strung with white party lights for a magical evening dance floor. A live band or DJ is perfect on the porch overlooking the patio.
There is even a large outdoor covered space that can be used as a ballroom or a fabulous Plan B in case of less than ideal weather conditions.
The Duncan Estate is also reasonably priced and very flexible. You bring in any caterer, florist and planner that you want to work with. For more information check out their website at http://www.duncanestate.com. I would love to work with you on an event at the Duncan Estate. Give me a call at 864-590-2440 or send me a message christine@faustevents.com to get started today!
If you are looking for a gorgeous outdoor site or have always dreamed of a beautiful mansion then this is the place! Danielle and her husband found this gem and polished it to perfection for their own nuptials and now they want to share it with you. Hasn't every girl dreamed of descending this staircase?
The grounds are lush,well-manicured and quaint with charming touches like a porch swing in the front yard and a playhouse in the back. The outdoor ceremony site is just waiting for your personal touches of hanging lanterns or bud vases.
The patio is strung with white party lights for a magical evening dance floor. A live band or DJ is perfect on the porch overlooking the patio.
There is even a large outdoor covered space that can be used as a ballroom or a fabulous Plan B in case of less than ideal weather conditions.
The Duncan Estate is also reasonably priced and very flexible. You bring in any caterer, florist and planner that you want to work with. For more information check out their website at http://www.duncanestate.com. I would love to work with you on an event at the Duncan Estate. Give me a call at 864-590-2440 or send me a message christine@faustevents.com to get started today!
5.06.2009
Serendipity Smiles
I love an amazing surprise. Especially when it comes in the form of a sign from above, which is exactly what happened to me in January when out of the blue I got two phone calls about wedding planning. Oh yeah…I used to be wedding planner. I was really good at it. And I LOVED it! All those hours of browsing through invitations (ooooh paper) and floral designs felt like fun and not work. Everything was going along swimmingly until *BAM* I got engaged. All of the sudden I had no time to do anything but try to please my demanding new client (my future hubby). It was the biggest success of my career, but boy was I burned out. And it wasn’t until serendipity came knocking that I knew I had to get back to my first love…event planning.
I think I have always been a planner. On my desk sits a photo of me at my 5th birthday party resplendent in my construction paper crown and munching on Barbie cake (you know the disturbing trend in the 70’s where the skirt was edible). All that time spent backstage during my 10+ year dance career just furthered my obsession. Sure the applause from the audience was fab, but it was learning how they made the magic happen backstage that was most fascinating. Once this big kid grew up and had to get a REAL job somehow I always somehow ended up planning events. Didn’t matter if it was a stuffy old insurance conference or a super-girly makeup party, I loved it all! All of these experiences taught me some valuable lessons – like FedEx doesn’t come with the same urgency in Hawaii as “on the mainland.”
Serendipity is continuing to smile on me and that is how I am certain I am on the right path. One of the best friends I made from my last job, Darlene @ American Grocery Restaurant, put me in touch with Carrie @ Zen, which lead me to Laura @ The Bridal Gallery and has landed me smack dab in the middle of where I need to be. I have no idea exactly where this will take me, but I sure plan on enjoying the ride!
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