Tracy

Now a days wedding receptions are transforming from what was once a nice gathering for everyone to congratulate and the bride and groom, into a true grand party for the couple and their guests. Receptions are the best part of a wedding because everyone can finally relax, let loose and party the night away! In most cases, you can’t have a wedding reception without the alcohol…which unfortunately can get very expensive. Will you have an open bar? How many guests are you inviting? What types of liquor are you serving? All of these are important questions that can greatly alter how much you spend on drinks. Keep reading to see the some great ways that you can cut alcohol costs at your wedding.

1. Offer one to three signature cocktails.

Instead of having an open bar which can run you several thousand dollars, have a few personalized drink selections that will be offered. These drinks will consist of a few set liquors thus eliminating the option of guests picking and choosing whatever they want.

2. Skip the champagne toast OR pour the glasses half full

Now, this is a small change to implement but it definitely will add up in the end. Providing a full glass of champagne is not needed, because chances are, your guests will care more about the liquor at the bar. So to save a few hundred dollars, only pour them a half glass, or you can skip the toast entirely and let them toast with what they have in their hands.

3. Serve only beer and wine.

This trend is very popular with the modern bride. You can offer a variety of different beers and wine and this will total up to less than a variety of straight liquor. If you want to go this route then consider offering a “tasting” hour with some local brews and wine to make your guests feel like they are getting something great out of this experience.

4. Shorten the open bar hours.

If you must have an open bar and are concerned with the price, simply shorten the hours! Instead of having an open bar all night, just make it end a few hours earlier. This will not only save you a great deal, but you will be able to feel better about your guests leaving the reception safely because they will have time for their buzz to wear off.

.Pay her head, instead of per drink.

Some caterers offer the option to pay per head, instead of per drink and if they do, they take the offer. You will end up saving more money paying per head, even IF everyone doesn’t get a drink. Chances are that the ones who are drinking will have several drinks a piece and paying her head will cut the costs.

6. Speaking of the liquor, eliminate top-shelf brands from the selection.

If you absolutely MUST have an open bar then an option for you is to eliminate the most expensive brands of liquor. Your guests can get just as “lit” off of less expensive brands, and no one should complain since the drinks will be free.

7. Host a day time wedding.

Guests always tend to drink much more at weddings that are in the night, as opposed to weddings that are during the day. So if your plans are not set in stone ye, look into an earlier wedding time as an option to save money!

8. Hire a friend who is a bartender.

Have any friends who are licensed bartenders? Definitely see if they wouldn’t mind assisting with your reception and they probably won’t charge you as much as other bartenders will! Think of it as a wedding gift from them to you!

All of these tips and more can go great for lessening your wedding bill, and at the same time they will be so small that no one will have any less fun…trust us!

Amber Bentley
Social Media Manager/Event Assistant
Devoted to Your Event, LLC

Source: http://www.borrowedandblue.com/all/wedding-blog/top-10-ways-to-cut-alcohol-costs-at-weddings

Selecting a location for your rehearsal dinner is something that couples put a lot of effort into. This night is usually spent with the couple, their families and the wedding party so you want your venue to be one that is really intimate and special. Keep reading to find out 9 of the best rehearsal dinner locations in the area!

 

Maryland:

1. Boxwood Estate Winery’s Tasting Room- 137 Waterfront Street, Oxon Hill, MD:

This wine tasting room restaurant is perfect for the wedding party that likes to indulge. You can rent out the whole area for an even as well. It is surely a great place for a rehearsal dinner. http://www.thetastingroomwinebar.com/national-harbor.html

2. Chesapeake Beach Resort & Spa- 4165 Mears Ave, Chesapeake Beach, MD:

The venue is beautiful, the location is relaxing and the food is spectacular. http://www.chesapeakebeachresortspa.com/?utm_source=theknot.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=theknot

Washington, D.C.:

1. The W Hotel- 515 15^th St. NW, Washington, DC:

At the W Hotel you can experience many different room styles, restaurants, bars, and rooftop fun. It is the perfect place to invite your wedding party to for an fun yet intimate rehearsal dinner. http://www.wwashingtondc.com

2. The Odyssey- 600 Water Street, SW, Washington, DC:

Here you can enjoy all inclusive dinner packages, stunning views, live entertainment and creative cuisine. http://www.odysseycruises.com/washington-dc/groups/wedding-venue

3. Clyde’s of Gallery Place- 707 7^th Street NW, Washington, DC:

Clyde’s is located in the Chinatown/Penn Quarter which is a very vibrant neighborhood. Here you can have access to a private indoor balcony with its own bar that would be perfect for a rehearsal dinner. http://www.clydes.com/gallery

4. The Hamilton- 600 14^th St. NW, Washington, DC:

The Hamilton is a super popular hotel and great for events. With its upbeat vibes and great scenery this is a must on our list. http://www.thehamiltondc.com

Virginia:

1. Top of the Town- 1400 14^th St. N, Arlington, VA:

This location is noted as having one of the best views in town according to Washingtonian Magazine. This site is elegant, fun, and sure to never have a dull moment when enjoying the views over dinner http://www.topofthetown.com

2. Dolce Vita Restaurant- 10824 Fairfax Blvd Fairfax, VA:

Located in the heart of Fairfax this restaurant has been serving Italian food for over 20 years. They offer a wide range of menu options, catering, and plenty of specials. http://www.dolcevitaitaliankitchenandwinebar.com

3. The Overwood- 220 N Lee St, Alexandria, VA:

Here you will find modern American cuisine, specialty cocktails, and great premium draft and bottled beer. Paired with a warm ambiance and hospitable service you will surely feel at home for your reception dinner. http://theoverwood.com/?page_id=585

To check out even more great locations for your rehearsal dinner be sure to visit TheKnot.com and adjust the search location to match your preferred area! Happy planning, hope you have as much fun as we did searching for locations!

Amber Bentley
Social Media Manager/Event Assistant
Devoted to Your Event, LLC

When it comes to a wedding reception one of the biggest things to plan out is the seating arrangements. The location and the number of guests play a large role in your decision. Some couples have seating arrangements and other opt to not have one at all. Lets dive into the main factors of this decision.

Seating arrangements are meant to help, not be a hassle. They are put in action to help keep things organized, ensure that all tables and seats are filled, to help the flow of traffic into the reception area, and to reduce the anxiety of guests trying to find seats with the individual(s) they came with.

When developing your seating chart be sure to look at the entire guest list. In most cases couples keep their families together sitting across multiple tables. When it comes to the rest of the guests you can put specific friends together or mix and match those two people you that have been trying to get to meet up! Most people also always put the children together at a kids table. If you do decide that you are having seating arrangements you should also have place cards, escort cards, or a seating chart to make things even more organized.

Now, not all wedding require seating arrangements. If you wedding is going to be small and intimate then setting aside time to create a seating chart should not be your focus. For example, a wedding of 50 people may not need a detailed plan.

So the decision is entirely up to you! For a smaller party seating arrangements are not a must, but for larger parties you would greatly benefit from setting aside the time to plan out your guests seats. Whatever you do make sure it is the right decision for you, and one that will cause as little stress as possible during this crucial planning process!

Reception Seating Etiquette Musts. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2016, from

https://www.theknot.com/content/etiquette-seating-charts

Amber Bentley
Social Media Manager/Event Assistant
Devoted to Your Event, LLC

During your wedding planning you will find that there are a lot of little things you can do to make your wedding special and make your guests feel that way too. Setting up escort cards are a cute way to show that you care, along with helping the reception flow in much more smoothly.

Escort cards can easily be one of the most important pieces of stationary that you have at your wedding but do you know what they really are? Most people tend to think that “escort cards” are the same as “place cards” but they aren’t. Place cards are the cards at the reception tables to show you exactly what seat you are in, and escort cards are what you take at the entrance of the reception or wedding to direct you to your table. This is something that minimizes a great deal of wandering bodies.

Along with the obvious reason for creating an escort card there are also a few other reasons that prove they are a good touch for your wedding. First, they would allow for you to show off your creativity. Second, they are just another way you can incorporate your theme into your wedding. Third, they can be super fun to make. And last, it could be a keepsake that your guests may want to take home!

There are so many great ways one can create an escort card so your design is truly up to you! Check out this blog post on Brides.com for 35 INSANELY creative escort card ideas that you could use to add a great personal touch to your wedding. Explore your options and have fun while making yours!

 

 

Amber Bentley
Social Media Manager/Event Assistant
Devoted to Your Event, LLC

Now a days it is very common to see children involved in wedding prep and the actual ceremony! There are so many different ways that one can chose to incorporate children into a wedding, so keep reading to find out the 5 unique ways that we loved the most! 

1. Let the children help pick out the ring:

Gentlemen, if you or your partner has a child from a previous relationship, or if you and your soon to be fiancé have a child together, a great way to make them feel important is to let them help pick out the engagement ring. Letting them in on this huge secret and having them there when you propose will be a moment they never forget!

2.Take them with you while you shop for your wedding outfits:

What daughter wouldn’t want to see her mommy in a gorgeous princess wedding dress?! This would be a great moment for the two of you to bond and for the child’s eyes to light up with amazement! You could even let her pick out a few dresses that she might want you to try you….you never know, she might even find the dress you end up buying!

3. Include them in the ceremony:

There are a lot of cute ways that children get incorporated into weddings these days! They can be at the front door greeting the guests, they can be the flower girl or ring bearer, they can walk down the isle with you and “give you away” at the altar, plus much more. Moments like these are priceless for both the couple and the guests!

4. Include them in the first dance:

After you and your partner have your first dance you can call your kids up to join in on the fun! This would be a perfect photo op! The dances could be even more special if the father and daughter had a dance and the mother and son shared one as well.

5. Get crafty at the reception:

If you are inviting children to your wedding it would be cute to have tables set up for them to have some fun while the adults are having their own fun. Providing non-messy art supplies and letting the children draw cute pictures of the couples or of the wedding room will be great mementos for the couple to keep in their wedding album.

Incorporating children into your big day will add happy vibes, adorable smiles, and most of all a lot of energy! All in all it will be nothing short of unforgettable when done the right way!

How to Include Your Children in Your Wedding. (n.d.). Retrieved May 28, 2016, from:
http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/372766/how-include-your-children-your-wedding#312279

Amber Bentley
Social Media Manager/Event Assistant
Devoted to Your Event, LLC

Getting married is a big step…that’s stating the obvious right? It is the process of taking two and turning them into one, so with that being said you and your partner definitely need to be one with your thoughts and plans for the future! Today we are bringing you seven topics that you for sure need to be sure you have discussed with your fiancé before you walk down the isle!

 

            Topic 1: How many children do you want if any?

One may not want kids because he has a lot of nieces and nephews already, didn’t like growing up with his siblings, or simply is not a fan of children. While others may not have had a chance to have siblings so they for sure want a big family of their own. This is something that needs to be discussed before hand in case a compromise is necessary.

 

Topic 2: Where do you want to live?

Now, if you and your fiancé are from the same hometown this will be much easier for at least the early years of your marriage. If you two are from two different places then you might have to sit down and weigh your options and decide on the place that will work best. You may have to move where your fiancé is if he or she has a solid job already or if there is some other reason that he would need to stay put. After selecting where you want to live you can start figuring out what type of home you want. Do you want to start out in a condo for a while, do you want to purchase a new house right away, etc.

 

Topic 3: Will you raise your family under one specific religion?

If you were raised up in a certain religion, do you want your kids raised in the same? What about if you two have different religions, which one will your kids practice? If you don’t have a particular religion at all will you allow your kids that same freedom to choose?

 

 

 

 

Topic 4: Family Time

Some people spend a lot more time with their families than others do. Will that change when you get married? How will you split up the holidays if each family lives somewhere different? Will the grandparents get equal time with the grandkids? Will they be invited on family vacations? There are so many questions you can ask with this topic. Family is such an important topic and this is something that you should definitely be on the same page with before getting married.

 

Topic 5: Career Plans

A career can be something that truly breaks a family. To avoid this talk with your fiancé about how important his career is to him. Find out what his dream career is and what his plans are to get there. Do you anticipate it interfering with your family life? Would that put a hold on building a family? Find out of you both can be happy where you are in life in terms of your career before you start building a family and are forced to stay stable for a while.

 

Topic 6: What will you do with your bank accounts?

Before getting married, couples usually come in with separate bank accounts, so will you keep yours that way or merge them together? This is very important and has a lot of elements tied to it like the shared bills, individual bills and loans/debt that one has to pay off. Come up with a plan that you both agree on and one that seems fair to the both of you. Also be sure to have some type of emergency fund!

 

Topic 7: House Shopping Requirements

When it comes to the items for your first place together after marriage, you definitely need to be on the same page with what you want. A lot of couples have two different visions for what they want their home to look like so you definitely need to prepare some sort of agreement when shopping. Do you like soft or hard mattresses? Will you want a television in your room or not? Rectangle or circle dining room set? Save yourself the possible arguments in the store and talk about this before hand!

 

The topics above are not the only topics that you need to talk about but they are for sure some of the important ones! In order to have a successful marriage you and your partner need to be a team, and in order to be a team you need to have the same goals. Discussing all the key life topics before getting married will help you both see where you stand and give you time to adjust if needed!

Atterberry, W. (2014, September 30). 15 Things Every Couple MUST Discuss Before Getting Married. Huffington

Post. Retrieved April 29, 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wendy-atterberry/15-things-every-couple-mu_b_5638629.html

Amber Bentley
Social Media Manager/Event Assistant
Devoted to Your Event, LLC

It’s that time again; Devoted to Your Event LLC would like to shed light on one of our superstar staff members. This quarter we will be highlighting a staff member who has been with the team from its early stages of development. This exceptional individual is an extremely hard worker, has the most positive attitude and contributes a lot of her own experience into what we do to provide a magnificent service to our clients. This superstar assistant is Mia Ma, our senior Event Assistant!

Mia Ma is originally from Shanghai, China; she graduated from Indiana University Bloomington as the Master’s in Recreational Sports Administration. One month after arriving to the United States, Mia joined Indiana Memorial Union (IMU), the leading Banquet Catering Business in Bloomington, IN. It was there she first came to know about Western Style Weddings, especially what happens at the reception as it was far more different than the China traditions.

Glorious settings, seasonal flowering, exquisite cuisine, live music and for most, people’s enjoyment were the different exciting elements, Mia was able to experience in milestone celebrations of the western culture. “I was truly impressed by the endless happiness on the couple and all the guests. To me, it was a culture shock at first, yet, furthermore a great experience”. All of that grandeur led Mia into getting involved in the event planning industry.

After 3 years with IMU, Mia moved up to the Washington, DC Metropolitan area, known as the “DMV” that covers (District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia) area, Where she met the owner/CEO, Ms. Tracy Pope during a training session she was taking in Virginia. She was scouting out young ambitious candidates who wouldn’t mind earning a few extra dollars supporting her business of weddings and events. I guess you can say Mia was in the right place at the right time.

Tracy’s passion of the event planning industry as well as her enthusiastic delivery of her client’s life memorable experience is something that I admired and decided to get on board more than a year ago. Being a part of turning a blank, weird, nothing close to elegant venue into a place that everyone vows was a big challenge, made me smile both inside and out when I heard from the venue staff “we never thought this place could be that pretty”, I knew then, we made it. “The client satisfaction is the greatest motivation for all of us here at Devoted To Your Event”.

Other than the event assistant, Mia works as a Customer Care Manager in a Professional Training company in Arlington, VA, and a Travelers Aid Volunteer in Ronald Reagan National Airport every Sunday.

We are truly grateful for Mia’s dedication with all that we do here at Devoted to Your Event, LLC, she is by far a superstar!

By Tracy Pope CEO
Photo of Tracy Pope and Mia Ma Courtesy of Baglan Abisheva

Sending out your wedding invites is probably one of the first things you do after you have your theme and venue secured. This is an important step in your process because it is the first impression of your wedding to you guests. Creating normal wedding invitations is still popular, however there is a new trend that has been emerging in our fast paced society, and that trend is wedding websites! A wedding website is a great source for all of your friends and family to stay updated on your wedding details. It eliminates the hassle of having to track down everyone’s addresses and spend money on mailing physical invitations. Here we have five great tips on what you should include on your wedding website!

1. Inform, don’t Instruct: When it comes to your website, be sure to include all of the important details. Additionally, when it comes to your helpful information (e.g., the dress code, weather) it is much more successful when you inform your guests instead of instructing them. Advising that one wears sandals or shoes that can get sand in them is much more received than writing “No fancy shoes allowed!” Guests will want to make their own decision based off of your information, not get told what they can and cannot do.

 

2. Include your bio and how you met: The “About” page on a wedding website is probably the most interesting section. This will allow the individuals who really never knew how the couple met to get all the inside information and to also learn about the bride and groom’s life as well. This section is always super cute and sometimes hilarious, especially when you get to read both the bride and groom’s version of how they met and who approached who! You can also include some information on your wedding party as well.

 

3. Include a page for the RSVP: The purpose of your wedding website is to take the place of a physical invitation so you definitely need to include a page for your guests to RSVP on. This will be a much quicker way to not only get guests to rsvp but also for you to keep track of them all.

 

4. Registries or gift preferences are welcome: Another thing you should definitely include on your wedding website is a link to your gift registry. Whether you have all your items planned out in your wish list, or you simply want money to go towards your honeymoon or your favorite charity, it is definitely worth noting on your website. Guests will be grateful for this information, trust us!

 

5. Include all logistics and provide answers to all possible questions: While this may seem like an obvious step, sometimes people forget to include all of the necessary information when they are caught up in the thrill of wedding planning. Be sure to include what time the wedding starts, the address and how to get there, an idea of the dress code, information on the food and if it will be a cash bar, etc. Think of all the possible questions your guests will ask and answer them before they get to ask them!

If you are thinking about creating a wedding website you are in luck because there are so many different resources available. Websites such as: TheKnot, Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, Wedding Window and some really great ones to take a look into. Take advantage of the resources that you have right at your fingertips to make your wedding planning run even smoother!

 

 

 

Eisenhart, M. (2014). What to put in a wedding website to make it actually useful.
Retrieved February 28, 2016, from
http://apracticalwedding.com/2014/08/include-wedding-website/

Amber Bentley
Social Media Manager/Event Assistant
Devoted to Your Event, LLC

One of the things that Devoted to Your Event LLC prides itself on is its exceptional staff. From the behind the scenes planning to the event day executions, our team is 200% hands on. This month we will be highlighting one of our staff members who is constantly working towards growing our clientele and educating our target market. That individual is Amber Bentley, our Social Media Marketing Manager and one of our Event Assistants!

Amber is 22 years old and from Clinton, Maryland. She received her Bachelors of Arts in May 2015 from the illustrious Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. While in college she majored in Public Relations and minored in Marketing, and was involved in many organizations and clubs. She loved PR ever since high school, but grew more in love with event planning as each school year progressed. During her final semester at Hampton, she signed up for an Event Planning elective that truly changed her career goals. In that class she learned how to plan an event from beginning to end, executed many “mock event” projects, and also planned several events on campus on behalf of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications. This class undoubtedly marked her love for event planning and she knew that when she graduated from college that this was the route she would want to take.

Amber joined Devoted to Your Event (DTYE) in August 2015 and has been a tremendous staff member ever since. She described her experience with this company so far as “truly exceptional.” She stated, “I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to work with DTYE! To be able to come out of college and find a job that is exactly what I wanted to do in life was so unexpected. I love the fact that I not only get to work with event planning but I also get to further develop my craft in public relations/marketing through my Social Media Marketing Manager role! This role requires a lot of dedication and creativity and I love all of the new information that I have been able to learn thus far.”

When asked if she had any information to pass down to other young aspiring event planners, Bentley replied, “I truly recommend anyone who is interested in the event planning industry to get involved with a company however you can. You may not get a full time role right away, it may be part time or even an internship, but it is so much better than having no experience at all when you are looking to get into this industry…There is a lot of work, sometimes very tiring, that goes into putting together an event but the end result is always completely worth it! I love everything about working for DTYE and I can’t wait to see what 2016 has in store for our CEO Tracy Pope and her company!”

We are truly grateful for Amber’s dedication with Devoted to Your Event, LLC and we cannot wait to introduce you to the rest of our amazing team!

Photo Courtesy of Baglan Abisheva