Tracy

Wedding Receptions are undoubtedly the liveliest part of a wedding. The stress of a wedding is over and the time to celebrate with your most cherished friends and family begins. The question after you’ve partied the night away is how do you end the night? Many clients often wonder what they are supposed to do to close out their reception and here you can find several great suggestions!

1. End on a slow song:

This will tone down the mood and be very fitting for a night filled with upbeat dancing. Everyone can get up and join in on that last song of the night.

2. Make a closing speech:

Around the time that you are thinking about wrapping up the reception, you and your spouse can take the stage or the microphone one last time to thank everyone for coming out and being a part of your special day.

3. Have the DJ announce the last song:

This is often seen or heard after the couple makes a closing speech. If the DJ makes the announcement it can make it look like it was his call and not the couples decision. Therefore, if you have those partygoers who wanted to stay all night they wont be upset with you!

4. End on a timeless sing-a-long:

Select a song that all generations know and love and it will have everyone on one accord as the night ends.

5. Set off balloons, confetti or fireworks (if your venue is outside):

What better way to end with a bang than this! This can happen right before or after the final song of the night with one final cheer before everyone leaves!

There are many ways that you can end your reception and these don’t even cover half of them! It all depends on what you as the couple wants, and what your venue permits. Whatever you choose, have fun while doing it and make all of your guests leave wanting more!

Sources:

Ending your wedding reception on the right note. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://mikestaff.com/ending-your-wedding-reception-on-the-right-note/

5 Ways to end your wedding with a bang. (n.d.)Retrieved from

http://www.brides.com/story/how-end-your-wedding-with-bang

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

Wedding days are supposed to be fun, but with all the stressful planning that some couples go through, sometimes things can become not so pleasant. To be sure that you really make it all worth it, here are 10 super fun ideas that you can include in your big day. These ideas will surely put a big smile on your face and everyone around.

1. Hold a pre-wedding party or field day:

This is a great way to get your wedding party acquainted if they don’t already know each other! Plan a fun day out on the town, some physical activities, or a fun party to build the relationships.

2. Create a snapchat filter:

Now a day’s social media is really becoming a big part of people’s everyday lives. Snapchat, the newest platform, is extremely popular and so are the filters. It has gotten so popular that you can pay and create your own! Wedding filters are the next big thing and it is something that a lot of brides and grooms are opting in to! Check out this link for more information https://www.snapchat.com/on-demand

3. Prepare for a highly anticipated first look:

Want to build up even more anticipation from your groom? Have him be blindfolded once he gets to the altar so he doesn’t see you until the moment before you begin your vows! The reaction on his face will be truly priceless.

4. Incorporate designs into the wedding isle:

There are many ways that you can have cool designs on wedding isle. You can have lights, colors, pictures, and more to make the actual ceremony be just as fun!

5. Toss something at the couple as they leave the ceremony:

Tossing rice is something that has been around for many years, however recently we have seen couples take a modern twist on this! Tossing pom-poms balls, glitter, and confetti are three of the best items to throw and a great way to show love and excitement for the new couple.

6. Arrive to or leave your wedding / reception in style:

A traditional limo is not your only option for transportation any more. Sports cars, water vehicles, helicopters, bikes, motorcycles, etc. can all be super fun ways to make memories with your spouse.

7. Have an expert tasting session during the cocktail hour or reception:

Wine and beer tastings are very popular during weddings. Be sure to look around for a great brand and one that most people may not have tried before. They may end up leaving with a some of their own!

8. Have an interactive guest book:

You can have a guest book that asks for advice, tips, and encouraging messages for the couple. In addition it doesn’t have to be in book format. Modern couples get large boards, photo books, posters and much more! Being able to look back on something like this will be priceless for your marriage.

9. Share fun facts:

Whether you place them on the guest tables, around the room, or verbally share them, trust us when we say that your guests will love learning fun facts about you and your spouse!

10. Have song selections for the DJ:

We all know that the couple will have their set songs for the wedding but what about the guests? Take the time to create little song request cards that your guest can fill out and send to the DJ throughout the night. The songs can be crazy and fun and really make the crowd have a good time!

All in all there are truly so many things that one can do to incorporate some fun ideas in their wedding, and we hope that these few are a good start! One thing that you can never go wrong with is setting up surprises. Remember there is no such thing as too much fun during a wedding!

 

 

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

Sources:

150 Ways to Make Your Wedding Unforgettable. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2016.

http://www.bridalguide.com/planning/the-details/reception/unique-wedding-ideas#137047

20 Secrets to a Fun Wedding Reception. Retrieved October 29, 2016, from

https://www.theknot.com/content/secrets-to-a-fun-wedding-reception

Wang, P. (n.d.). 31 Impossibly Fun Wedding Ideas. Retrieved October 29, 2016, from

https://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/impossibly-fun-wedding-ideas?utm_term=.gij6v2Z3Q7#.ivnPbVm4rz

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